He spake as one who is somewhat wrathful, and she answered humbly and
kindly:

'Well is that. Bide thou the token that shall lead thee to Shadowy
Vale. Farewell now.'

She drew her hand from his, and turned and went her ways swiftly to
the house: he could not choose but gaze on her as she went
glittering-bright and fair in that grey place of the mountains, till
the dark doorway swallowed up her beauty. Then he turned away and
took the path through the pine-woods, muttering to himself as he
went:

'What thing have I done now that hitherto I had not done? What
manner of man am I to-day other than the man I was yesterday?'



CHAPTER VIII. FACE-OF-GOD COMETH HOME AGAIN TO BURGSTEAD



Face-of-God went back through the wood by the way he had come, paying
little heed to the things about him. For whatever he thought of
strayed not one whit from the image of the Fair Woman of the
Mountain-side.

He went through the wood swiftlier than yesterday, and made no stay
for noon or aught else, nor did he linger on the road when he was
come into the Dale, either to speak to any or to note what they did.