and the nakedness, and the toil, and the torment of wind and weather
were as a penance for the days and deeds of our past lives.
What more is to say concerning our lives here, saving this,
that in those days I learned yet more wisdom of the Teacher of Lore,
and amidst that wisdom was much of that which ye call sorcery:
as the foreseeing of things to come, and the sending of dreams or visions,
and certain other matters. And I may tell thee that the holy man who
came to us last even, I sent him the dream which came to him drowsing,
and bade him come to the helping of Walter the Black: for I knew that I
should take thy hand and flee with thee this morning e'en as I have done:
and I would fain have a good leech to Walter lest he should die,
although I owe him hatred rather than love. Now, my friend, tell me,
is this an evil deed, and dost thou shrink from the Sorceress?"

He strained her to his bosom and kissed her mouth,
and then he said: "Yet thou hast never sent a dream to me."
She laughed and said: "What! hast thou never dreamed
of me since we met at the want-way of the Wood Perilous?"
"Never," said he. She stroked his cheek fondly, and said:
"Young art thou, sweet friend, and sleepest well a-nights. It
was enough that thou thoughtest of me in thy waking hours."
Then she went on with her tale.



CHAPTER 8

The Lady Maketh an End of Her Tale