I had struck a blow for Scotland and
for her friend. This thought made me great cheer in my heart; as I
heard, from the room below, the voices of the two girls devising together
very seriously for nigh the space of an hour. But, knowing that they
might have matters secret between themselves to tell of, for the Maiden
had said that she brought good tidings, I kept coy and to myself in my
little upper chamber. To leave the house, indeed, was more than my life
was worth. Now to fly and hide was what I could not bring myself to
venture; here I would stay where my heart was, and take what fortune the
saints might send. So I endured to wait, and not gladden myself with the
sight of Elliot, and the knowledge of how I now stood with her. To me
this was great penance, but at last the voices ceased, and, looking
secretly from the window, I saw the Maiden depart, her archer following
her.

Now I could no longer bridle in my desire to be with Elliot, and learn
whether I was indeed forgiven, and how I stood in her favour. So,
passing down the stair that led from my cubicle, I stood at the door of
the room wherein she was and knocked twice. But none answered, and,
venturing to enter, I heard the sound of a stifled sob. She had thrown
herself on a settle, her face turned to the wall, and the afternoon sun
was shining on her yellow hair, which lay loose upon her shoulders.

I dared to say no word, and she only made a motion of her hand towards
me, that I should begone, without showing me the light of her
countenance. On this I went forth stealthily, my heart again very heavy,
for the Maiden had spoken of learning good tidings; and wherefore should
my mistress weep, who, an hour agone, had been so merry? Difficult are
the ways of women, a language hard to be understood, wherefore "love," as
the Roman says, "is full of anxious fears."

Much misdoubting how I fared in Elliot's heart, and devising within
myself what this new sorrow of Elliot's might signify, I half forgot my
own danger, yet not so much as to fare forth of the doors, or even into
the booth, where customers might come, and I be known. Therefore I
passed into a room behind the booth, where my master was wont to instruct
me in my painting; and there, since better might not be, I set about
grinding and mixing such colours as I knew that he required.

I had not been long about this task, when I heard him enter the booth
from without, whence he walked straight int