she would have me do. Now let me think of it."

Then was she silent a good while, and spoke at last: "Yea, all
things are perilous, and a perilous rede I have thought of, whereof
I will not tell thee as yet; so waste not the short while by asking
me. At least the worst will be no worse than what shall come if we
strive not against it. And now, my friend, amongst perils it is
growing more and more perilous that we twain should be longer
together. But I would say one thing yet; and maybe another
thereafter. Thou hast cast thy love upon one who will be true to
thee, whatsoever may befall; yet is she a guileful creature, and
might not help it her life long, and now for thy very sake must
needs be more guileful now than ever before. And as for me, the
guileful, my love have I cast upon a lovely man, and one true and
simple, and a stout-heart; but at such a pinch is he, that if he
withstand all temptation, his withstanding may belike undo both him
and me. Therefore swear we both of us, that by both of us shall all
guile and all falling away be forgiven on the day when we shall be
free to love each the other as our hearts will."

Walter cried out: "O love, I swear it indeed! thou art my Hallow,
and I will swear it as on the relics of a Hallow; on thy hands and
thy feet I swear it."

The words seemed to her a dear caress; and she laughed, and blushed,
and looked full kindly on him; and then her face grew solemn, and
she said: "On thy life I swear it!"

Then she said: "Now is there nought for thee to do but to go hence
straight to the Golden House, which is my Mistress's house, and the