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。。。and loth I were if thou wert not really of mankind； if it were but for the glory of the world。〃
She hung her head and answered nought a while； and he also seemed ashamed： but presently she spake： 〃Thou hast been kind to us； wouldst thou tell us thy name？ and then； if it like thee； what thou art？〃
〃Lady；〃 he said； 〃my name is easy to tell； I hight Christopher； and whiles folk in merry mockery call me Christopher King； meseems because I am of the least account of all carles。 As for what else I am； a woodman I am； an outlaw； and the friend of them： yet I tell thee I have never by my will done any harm to any child of man； and those friends of mine； who are outlaws also； are kind and loving with me； both man and woman； though needs must they dwell aloof from kings' courts and barons' halls。〃
She looked at him wondering； and as if she did not altogether understand him； and she said： 〃Where dost thou dwell？〃
He said： 〃To…day I dwell hard by； though where I shall dwell to…morrow； who knows？ And with me are dwelling three of my kind fellows； and the dearest is a young man of mine own age； who is my fellow in all matters； for us to live and die each for the other。 Couldst thou have seen him； thou wouldst love him I deem。〃
〃What name hath he？〃 said Goldilind。
〃He hight David；〃 said Christopher。
But therewith he fell silent and knit his brow； as though he were thinking of some knotty point： but in a while his face cleared； and he said： 〃If I durst； I would ask thee thy name； and what thou art？〃
〃As to my name；〃 said she； 〃I will not tell it thee as now。 As to what I am； I am a poor prisoner； and much have I been grieved and tormented； so that my body hath been but a thing whereby I might suffer anguish。 Something else am I； but I may not tell thee what as yet。〃
He looked on her long； and then arose and went his way along the very track of their footsteps； and he took the horse and brought him back to the thorn； and stood by the lady and reddened； and said： 〃I must tell thee what I have been doing these last minutes。〃
〃Yea；〃 said she； looking at him wonderingly； 〃hast thou not been fetching my horse to me？〃
〃So it is；〃 said he； 〃but something else also。 Ask me； or I cannot tell thee。〃
She laughed； and said： 〃What else； fair sir？〃
Said he： 〃Ask me what； or I cannot tell thee。〃
〃Well； what； then？〃 said she。
He answered； stammering and blushing： 〃I have been looking at thy foot prints； whereby thou camest up from the water； to see what new and fairer blossoms have come up in the meadow where thy feet were set e'en now。〃
She answered him nothing； and he held his peace。 But in a while she said： 〃If thou wouldst have us come to thine house； thou shalt lead us thither now。〃 And therewith she took her foot…gear from out of her girdle； as if she would do it on； and he turned his face away； but sighed therewith。 Then she reddened and put them back again； and rose up lightly； and said： 〃I will go afoot； and wilt thou lead the horse for me？〃
So did he； and led her by all the softest and most flowery ways； turning about the end of a spur of the little hill that came close to the water； and going close to the lip of the river。 And when they had thus turned about the hill there was a somewhat wider vale before them； grassy and fair； and on a knoll； not far from the water； a long frame…house thatched with reed。
Then said Christopher： 〃Lady； this is now Littledale； and yonder the house thereof。〃
She said quietly： 〃Lovely is the dale； and fair the house by seeming； and I would that they may be happy that dwell therein！〃
Said Christopher： 〃Wilt thou not speak that blessing within the house as without？〃
〃Fain were I thereof；〃 she said。 And therewith they came into the garth； wherein the apple trees were blossoming； and Goldilind spread abroad her hands and lifted up her head for joy of the sight and the scent； and they stayed awhile before they went on to the door； which was half open； for they feared none in that place； and looked for none whom they might not deal with if he came as a foe。
Christopher would have taken a hand of her to lead her in； but both hands were in her gown to lift up the hem as she passed over the threshold； so he durst not。
Fair and bright now was the hall within； with its long and low windows goodly glazed； a green halling on the walls of Adam and Eve and the garden； and the good God walking therein； the sun shone bright through the southern windows； and about the porch it was hot； but further toward the dais cool and pleasant。
So Goldilind sat down in the coolest of the place at the standing table； but Christopher bestirred himself； and brought wine and white bread； and venison and honey； and said： 〃I pray thee to dine； maiden； for it is now hard on noon； and as for my fair fellows； I look not for them before sunset for they were going far into the wood。〃
She smiled on him； and ate and drank a little deal； and he with her。 Sooth to say； her heart was full； and though she had forgotten her fear； she was troubled； because； for as glad as she was； she could not be as glad as her gladness would have her； for the sake of some lack； she knew not what。
Now spake Christopher： 〃I would tell thee something strange； to wit； though it is little more than three hours since I first saw thee beside the river； yet I seem to know thee as if thou wert a part of my life。〃
She looked on him shyly； and he went on： 〃This also is strange； and； withal； it likes me not； that when I speak of my fair fellows here； David； and Gilbert； and Joanna； they are half forgotten to my heart； though their names are on my tongue； and this house； doth it like thee； fair guest？〃
〃Yea； much；〃 she said； 〃it seems joyous to me： and I shall tell thee that I have mostly dwelt in unmerry houses； though they were of greater cost than this。〃
Said Christopher： 〃To me it hath been merry and happy enough； but now it seems to me as if it had all been made for thee and this meeting。〃
〃Is it therefore no longer merry to thee because of that？〃 she said； smiling； yet flushing much red therewith。 Now it was his turn not to answer her； and she cast down her eyes before him； and there was silence between them。
Then she looked at him steadily； and said： 〃It is indeed grievous that thou shouldest forget thine old friends for me； and that it should have come into thy mind that this fair and merry house was not made for thy fair fellows and thy delight with them； but for me； the chance…comer。 For； hearken； whereas thou saidst e'en now； that I was become a part of thy life； how can that be？ For if I become the poor captive again； how canst thou get to me； thou who art thyself a castaway； as thou hast told me？ Yea； but even so； I shall be too low for thee to come down to me。 And if I become what I should be； then I must tell thee that I shall be too high for thee to climb up to me； so that in one way or other we shall be sundered； who have but met for an hour or two。〃
He hung his head a while as they stood there face to face； for both of them had arisen from the board； but presently he looked up to her with glittering eyes； and said： 〃Yea； for an hour or two； why then do we tarry and linger； and say what we have no will to say； and refrain from what our hearts bid us？〃
Therewith he caught hold of her right wrist； and laid his hand on her left shoulder； and this first time that he had touched her； it was as if a fire ran through all his body and changed it into the essence of her： neither was there any naysay in her eyes； nor any defence against him in the yielding body of her。 But even in that nick of time he drew back a little； and turned his head； as a man listening； toward the door； and said： 〃Hist！ hist！ Dost thou hear； maiden？〃 She turned deadly pale： 〃O what is it？ What is it？ Yea； I hear； it is horses drawing nigh； and the sound of hounds baying。 But may it not be thy fellows coming back？〃
〃Nay； nay；〃 he said； 〃they rode not in armour。 Hark to it！ and these hounds are deep…voiced sleuth…dogs！ But come now； there may yet be time。〃
He turned； and caught up axe and shield from off the wall； and drew her toward a window that looked to the north； and peered out of it warily； but turned back straightway； and said： 〃Nay； it is too late that way； they are all round about the house。 Maiden； get thou up into the solar by this stair； and thou wilt find hiding…place behind the traverse of the bed； and if they go away； and my fellows come in due time； then art thou safe。 But if not； surely they shall do thee no hurt； for I think； indeed； that thou art some great one。〃
And he fell to striding down the hall toward the door； but she ran after him； and caught his arm； and said： 〃Nay； nay； I will not hide； to be dragged out of my refuge like a thief： thou sayest well that I am of the great； I will stand by thee and command and forbid as a Queen。 O go not to the door！ Stay by me； stay！〃
〃Nay； nay；〃 he said； 〃there is nought for it but the deed of arms。 Look！ seest thou not steel by the porch？〃
And therewith he broke from her and ran to the door； and was met upon the very threshold by all…armed men； upon whom he fell without more ado； crying out： 〃For the Tofts！