d the mead Anna told
me all, to wit, how that this wretch, after I had gone to sleep, had
bidden her a price for me to bear me off safely and wholly with him.
And that may easily be done, says he, as I see of thee that thou art
wise in wizardry and canst throw the maiden into a sleep which she
will not awake from till due time is; for, says he, I want two things,
to have her in mine arms to do as I will with, and thereafter to bear
her home with me, will she nill she. 'Now,' said Anna, 'I would not
wholly gainsay him at once, for I would have my fox safe in my trap;
so I hemmed and hawed, and said that he might belike rue his bargain
unless he were full sure what it were worth; and to be short, I so
egged him on and drew him back, and drew him back and egged him on,
that at last he took off his outer raiment, gat his bare whittle in
one hand, and laid the other on the door. Now, my dear, I have long
known thy door that I may so do that it will do my will in many
matters; so when I saw the chapman's hand on the edge thereof, I spake
a few words to it and went to bed myself, whereas I wotted that
runagate could not move hand from door-board, or foot from
floor-board, till the time which I had appointed to him; and thee also
I had sent to sleep till the very time when thou didst awaken e'en
now.' 'But what shall we do now?' said I. Said Anna: 'We will abide
here in the shaw: there is meat on the board for the guest, and his
raiment will not be hard to find, and he knows where are his horse and
his gear and his saddle-bags. I doubt me he will not be eager to say
farewell either to thee or to me; for he is not man enough to take his
sword in his fist against even an old carline and a young maiden.' So
in the shaw we gat us; as I have told thee, it is at the back of our
houses but a furlong off. And there we lay till a little past noon,
when we heard a horse going not far off. So we crept to the very edge
of the wood and looked forth privily, and presently we saw our chapman
riding off west with his saddle-bags and all, and his face was worn
and doleful; at that Anna grinned spitefully, nor for my part might I
altogether refrain my laughter. But thou dost not laugh, Osberne?" He
sprang up and cried out fiercely: "I would I had been there to cleave
his skull! Many a better man I have slain for less cause."

Then they were silent a while, and she sat looking on him fondly, till
she spake at last: "Sweetheart, art thou angry wit