He talked with her constantly; yet never of his own feelings regarding her.
He told her of his adventures in Eastern lands; of the happenings in England during the past eight years, so far as he had been able to learn them; of his home and property; of hers, and of the welcome which awaited her from her people.
He never spoke of the Convent, nor of the eventful days through which he and she had so recently passed.
So successfully did he dominate her mind in this, that almost it seemed to her she too was returning home after a long absence in a foreign land.
Her mind awoke to unrestrained enjoyment of each hour, and to the keen anticipation of the traveller homeward bound.
Each day spent in Hugh's company seemed to wipe out one, or more, of the intervening years, so that when, toward evening, on the seventh day, the grey turrets of her old home came in sight, it might have been but yesterday they had parted, on those same battlements, and she had watched him ride away, until the firwood from which they were now emerging, had hidden him from view.
Kneeling at her casement, her mind seemed lost in a whirlpool of emotion, as she reviewed the hour of their arrival.

The road up to the big gates--every tree and hillock, every stock and stone, loved and familiar, recalling childish joys and sorrows, adventure and enterprise.

Then the passing in through the gates, the familiar faces, the glad greetings; Zachary--white-haired, but still rosy and stalwart--at the foot of the steps; and, in the doorway, just where loneliness might have gripped her, old Debbie, looking as if she had never been away, waiting with open arms.

So this was the moment foreseen by Hugh when he had planned an early start, that morning, for Mistress Deborah, and a more roundabout ride for her.
She turned, with an impulsive gesture, holding out to him her left hand, that he might cross the threshold with her.

But the Knight was stooping to examine the right forehoof of her palfrey, she having fancied Icon had trod tenderly upon it during the last half-mile; so she passed in alone.
Afterwards she overheard old Debbie say, in her most scolding tones: "She did stretch out her hand to you, Sir Hugh, and you saw it not!" But the Knight's deep voice made courteous answer: "There is no look or gesture of hers, however slight, good Mistress Deborah, which doth escape me." And at this her heart thrilled far more than if he had met her hand, responsive; knowing that thus he did faithfully keep his pledge to her, and that he could so keep it, only by never relaxing his stern hold upon himself.
Yet almost she began to wish him less stern and less faithful, so much did she long to feel for one instant the strong clasp of his arms about her.