knew that for the time she was mad, and would kill me even as she
had said, did I not swear. So I did take that fearful oath, coward as I
was, and to this day am I a craven when I think on 't. When I had sworn,
she turned from me as though there were no such woman in all the earth,
and went once more to the door o' th' cave, and called his
name--"Ernle!"

He answered straightway, and said, "This once will I speak to thee, but
if thou dost not unbar the door o' th' instant, I will never hold speech
with thee again, nor touch so much as the hem of thy garments, by the
living God!"

She said, "I cannot! I cannot! But oh! say not such dreadful words. We
will be happy. 'Tis for that I keep thee here. Speak to me! Ernle!
Ernle! Ernle! Call me thy love once more! Just once! just once!"

But she might as well have plead at the door o' a tomb for all the
answer she got. Again and again she called him, but a dead man speaks no
more than spoke her lord. And at last she sprang to her feet, and rushed
away into the darkness towards the castle, and I after her.

And when I was entered in by a side door, and had changed my apparel and
gone forth to inquire after her, lo! she was raving as with fever, and
all they, her father, and mother, and Mistress Marian, thought that he
had ridden away and left her i' th' park, having said farewell to them
ere he and my lady did set forth to walk. And they strove to comfort
her.

The morrow was scarce dawned when she was up and dressed, and stealing
through the covert to the door o' th' cave. I followed her, for she
heeded me no more, now that I had taken the oath, knowing that I would
be torn in pieces ere I would betray my trust. When she was come to the
door, she kneeled down and leaned her head against it, and called to
him, with a voice so exquisite low, 'twas almost as though one should
hear the spirit when it speaks within, and she saith, "Ernle--my
love--my love."

And all was still as death. And she said, "Darling, feel with thy hands
for the bread and wine. It is near thee on the right o' th' door as thou
enterest in. Two bottles o' wine and some loaves o' bread."

But he answered her neither by word or sighing. And she said, "Wouldst
thou break my heart?" Then, when she saw that he would not answer her,
she cast herself face down along the ground, and tore up the grass with
her hands, and pressed down her face into the damp earth. And after a
while (for th' looks o't) she rose a