en she saw my lady she drew in her breath with a sharp
sound, and set both hands against her bosom. And she bended forward from
her loins and listened, but in none otherwise moved she. And my lady
went on, "To-morrow I will set thee free--I do swear it. With the rising
o' th' morrow's sun thou shalt be free as air. Only speak to me now.
Only speak to me now. Just once, Ernle--just once."

With one spring Mistress Marian was upon her, and had pinned her arms to
her sides. And the two women stood and gazed into each other's faces,
with their throats stretched forward, as serpents stretch their throats
ere springing upon each other.

Mistress Marian spake first, and her voice was as a voice that I had
never heard, and she said, "So _this_ is the truth, then?"

My lady said no word, but her eyes were aflame.

And Mistress Marian gazed on her for an instant more, then dashed her
aside, and turned towards the cave.

"Ernle," she said, "take heart. I will set thee free--I, Marian!" But
ere her hand did touch the bolt, my lady was upon her like a little
tiger, and she wound her hands in Mistress Marian's thick tresses, and
dragged her backward.

And they rolled over and over on the ground, even as do men when they
fight, saying no word from first to last. The horror of it smote me
that I fell down upon my knees and was dumb. Now my little lady was
uppermost, now Mistress Marian. And had not my lady been strong with
despair, Mistress Marian could 'a' mastered her o' th' instant. But she
fought like a she-wolf brought to bay, with teeth and talons too, and
'twas almost as though two of a size had fought there. Howbeit, with a
sudden move, Mistress Marian flung my lady down, and set her knee upon
her, and held her, and looked from side to side, as though at a loss,
and my lady's strength was fast failing.

When I saw that, I could bide still no longer, but ran forward, crying
to Mistress Marian to be gentle with her.

She answered but these words, "Nurse, take off my girdle and bind thy
lady's hands with it." And there was that in her voice I dared not
disobey. So I bound my lady's hands, she saying never a word, and when
the girdle was fast knotted, Mistress Marian helped her gently enough to
rise, and bidding me have a care o' her, turned and drew back the bolt
from the door o' the cave.

The last light o' the sun fell like a golden lance across the threshold,
and across my lord as he lay there, face down, with his han