Alas! that I
should still be so weak."
"Weak!" she exclaimed, raising her black eyebrows. "I do not
think that even my father himself, who is a hard judge of
manhood, would call you that. But it is, as you may think, sir,
a very pleasant thing for me to hear that you are grieved at what
you have done, and I can but rede that we should go back
together, and you should make your peace with the Socman by
handing back your prisoner. It is a sad thing that so small a
thing as a woman should come between two who are of one blood."
Simple Alleyne opened his eyes at this little spurt of feminine
bitterness. "Nay, lady," said he, "that were worst of all. What
man would be so caitiff and thrall as to fail you at your need?
I have turned my brother against me, and now, alas! I appear to
have given you offence also with my clumsy tongue. But, indeed,
lady, I am torn both ways, and can scarce grasp in my mind what
it is that has befallen."
"Nor can I marvel at that," said she, with a little tinkling
laugh. "You came in as the knight does in the jongleur's
romances, between dragon and damsel, with small time for the
asking of questions.
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