The corners of her sensitive little mouth were quivering now with the emotion that possessed her, and on her eyes there was a film of tears.
"You cowards!" she blazed at them, "you hinds, that lack the spirit even to run! Were I asking you to stand and fight in defence of me, you could not show yourselves more palsied.

I was a fool," she sobbed, stamping her foot so that the snow squelched under it.

"I was a fool to entrust myself to you." "Madonna," answered one of them, "if flight could still avail us, you should not find us stubborn.

But it were useless.

I tell you again, Madonna, that when I espied them from the hill-top yonder, they were but a half-league behind.