Then he took her hands in one of his, and put his other hand very
gently under her chin, and lifted it till he could look into her
face, and he said: "Give me the key to Gillian's prison, little
Joan, because you love happy endings."


Joan: Dear Martin, I cannot give you the key.

Martin: Why not?

Joan: Because I stuck it inside your apple.


So he kissed her and they parted, and lay down and slept; she among
her comrades under the apple-tree, and he under the briony in the
hedge; and the moon came out of her dream and watched theirs.


With morning came a hoarse voice calling along the hedge:

"Maids! maids! maids!"

Up sprang the milkmaids, rubbing their eyes and stretching their
arms; and up sprang Martin likewise. And seeing him, Joscelyn was
stricken with dismay.

"It is Old Gillman, our master," she whispered, "come with bread and
questions. Quick, singer, quick! into the hollow russet before he
reaches the hole in the hedge."