And her mother knew that this must be so, and sent her away on some household errand, and I was glad.
Then she laid her hand on mine, and spoke very kindly to me.
"I fear, Redwald, that there is a strange trial coming for you; but I think that you will face it rightly.

It is likely that you will hardly know Hertha when you see her; yet you are betrothed to her, and that is a thing that cannot be forgotten." "She will not know me at all," I said.
"Women are keen sighted," the lady answered; "but it is more than likely that she will not." Then said I: "What if she has no love for me ?" "Or you of her?
But I think that in her hiding she has thought of you ever, and well will it be for you if you come not short of her dream of you.

But you have thought of her not at all." "Blame me not, lady," I said humbly enough, though I thought I deserved blame more than she knew.
"I cannot," she answered, and then a half smile crossed her fair face; "nor should I have thought it wonderful if some other maiden had taken her place in your heart.

But that would have been ill for three people in the end." I sat silent, and maybe I was glad that the glow of the fire was ruddy on my face, for it seemed that she had seen somewhat of my thoughts of late.
"Now you must find Hertha," she went on, "and then if either of you will be released, I think that Holy Church will not be hard on you, nor keep you bound to each other, for things have turned out ill for such a betrothal." "This is a hard case," I said, "for supposing that one longs for release and the other does not ?" "Why, you cannot be so much as lovers yet!" she said, laughing suddenly.

"Here we speak as if a child's thoughts were aught.