so Saxon."

"I hate the Saxons," said the maid, pettishly. She had risen to her
feet, but still was troubled about her tumbled hair. "I am to be married
to one, and so have run away. That is why I am wandering in this stupid
wood."

"Call it not stupid, it hath brought you to me once more," whispered
Will, taking her hands; "and so you do not love this man after all? Is
it so? Had I but known!"

"Didst leave London because of _that_?" asked she, lightly. "Ay, but men
know how to cozen us! I'll not believe a foolish thing, not if you were
to tell it me a thousand times."

"I'll tell it to you once, sweetheart. I did leave London because I
learned that you were to be married to another. Life had no more to
teach me than that one thing, and it was enough. For what was left for
me to learn? I had loved you and loved you so well, and had loved you in
vain."

"Had loved, Will? Is thy love so small, then, that it burns out like a
candle, within an hour? I had believed----"

But Master Scarlett suddenly took this wilful maid to his heart. "I do
love you, oh, my dear, with all my body and my life--till the end of
ends, in waking and sleeping. And so I pledge my troth."

She struggled out of his arms. "I am encumbered with wild beasts at each
step," cried she, all rosy and breathless. "One would kill me for blind
rage, the other for love. Oh, I do not know which to fear the most.
There, you may kiss my hand, Will, and I will take you for my man, since
it seems that I am to be married whether I will or no. But _you_ must
carry the tidings to my Saxon in York, and, beshrew me, I hope he will
not take it too hardly, for your sake."

"And yours also." Scarlett was holding her again.

"I like you well enough to be sorry if he should hurt you," said this
teasing little Princess. She looked up at him, and then dropped her
lashes. "Do you _truly_ love me, Will? For truly do I love you."

And so the Princess of Aragon elected to marry Geoffrey of Montfichet,
notwithstanding the politic choice of husband made for her by the wise
old men in London town.

They walked on together towards Nottingham, quietly, and in deep content
with the world.

They encountered a stately little cavalcade near by the gates of the
city, and knew themselves observed ere they could hope to avoid them.
Putting a bold face on it, the lovers stood on one side, to permit this
company to pass them.

An old man, richly dressed, came first, followed at