But as the Guests went from the Gate to the House of the Face, going
very slowly because of the press, there in the front of the throng
stood the Bride with the women of the Runaways, whom she had caused
to be clad very fairly; and she was fain to do them a pleasure by
bringing them to sight of these new-comers, of whom she had not heard
who they were, though she had heard the cry that strangers were at
hand. So there she stood smiling a little with the pleasure of
showing a fair sight to the poor people, as folk do with children.
But when she saw those twain going on each side of the Alderman she
knew them at once; and when the Sun-beam, who was on his left side,
passed so close to her that she could see the very smoothness and
dainty fashion of her skin, then was she astonied, and the world
seemed strange to her, and till they were gone by, and for a while
afterwards, she knew not where she was nor what she did, though it
seemed to her as if she still saw the face of that fair woman as in a
picture.
But the Sun-beam had noted her at first, even amongst the fair women
of Burgstead, and she so steady and bright beside the wandering
timorous eyes and lowering faces of the thralls.
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