'
He took her hand and kissed it, and held it thereafter; nor did she
draw it away. The moon shone brightly on them; but by its light he
could not see if she reddened, but he deemed that her face was
troubled. Then he said: 'It were better for me if I might kiss thy
face, and take thee in mine arms.'
Then said she: 'This only shall a man do with me when I long to do
the like with him. And since thou art so much my friend, I will tell
thee that as for this longing, I have it not. Bethink thee what a
little while it is since the lack of another man's love grieved me
sorely.'
'The time is short,' said Folk-might, 'if we tell up the hours
thereof; but in that short space have a many things betid.'
She said: 'Dost thou know, canst thou guess, how sorely ashamed I
went amongst my people? I durst look no man in the face for the
aching of mine heart, which methought all might see through my face.'
'I knew it well,' he said; 'yet of me wert thou not ashamed but a
little while ago, when thou didst tell me of thy grief.'
She said: 'True it is; and thou wert kind to me. Thou didst become
a dear friend to me, methought.
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