merrily. "See, you shall be as bright as spring, in green, and white,
and red!"

There was the bonnet, with its three coloured plumes, and the doublet,
with Charles wrought in silver on the arm and breast, and all other
things seemly--a joy to mine eyes.

She held them up before me, her face shining like the return of life,
with a happy welcome; and my heart beat to see and hear her as of old it
was wont to do.

"And wherefore should not I go to the wars," she cried, "and fight beside
the Maid? I am as tall as she, if scantly so strong, and brave--oh, I am
very brave Glacidas, I bid you beware!" she said, putting the archer's
bonnet gallantly cocked on her beautiful head, and drawing forth the
sword from his scabbard, as one in act to fight, but in innocent
unwarlike wise.

There she stood before me in the sunlight, like the Angel of Victory, all
glad and fair, and two blue rays from her eyes shot into my heart, and
lo! I was no more a child, but a man again and a lover.

"O Elliot," I said, ere ever I wist what I was saying, and I caught her
left hand into mine--"O Elliot, I love you! Give me but your love, and I
shall come back from the wars a knight, and claim my love to be my lady."

She snatched her hand suddenly, as if angered, out of mine, and
therewith, being very weak, I gave a cry, my wound fiercely paining me.
Then her face changed from rose-red to lily-white, she dropped on her
knees by my bed, and her arms were about my neck, and all over my face