to see me; and O, friend, these tears are for the sweetness of that past hour!
Said Walter: I came to see my friend, I also. Now have I noted what thou badest me; and I will forbear all as thou commandest me, till we be safe out of the desert and far away from all evil things; but wilt thou ban me from all caresses?
She laughed amidst of her tears, and said: O, nay, poor lad, if thou wilt be but wise.
Then she leaned toward him, and took his face betwixt her hands and kissed him oft, and the tears started in his eyes for love and pity of her.
Then she said: Alas, friend! even yet mayst thou doom me guilty, and all thy love may turn away from me, when I have told thee all that I have done for the sake of thee and me. O, if then there might be some chastisement for the guilty woman, and not mere sundering!
Fear nothing, sweetling, said he; for indeed I deem that already I know partly what thou hast done.
She sighed, and said: I will tell thee next, that I banned thy kissing and caressing of me till to-day because I knew that my Mistress would surely know if a man, if thou,
174
