Shalt thou be with us yet ?" "If my strength backs my will, Randal; and truly your face is a sight for sair eyne, and does me more good than all the powers of the apothecary." "Then here is to our next merry meeting," he cried, "under Paris walls!" With that the Scots gave a shout, and, some of them crowding round to press my hand, they bade me be of good cheer, and all went onward, singing in the tune of "Hey, tuttie tattie," which the pipers played when we broke the English at Bannockburn.
So I was borne back to the house of Jacques Boucher, and, in the sunny courtyard, there stood Charlotte, looking gay and fair, yet warlike, as I deemed.

She was clad in a long garment of red over a white robe, and had sleeves of green, so that she wore the spring's own colours, and she was singing a French ditty concerning a lady who has a lover, and vows that she will never be a nun.
Seray-je nonnette, oui ou non, Serray-je nonnette, je croy que non! Seeing me, she stinted in her singing, and in feeding a falcon that was perched on her wrist.
"You are early astir for a sick man," she said.

"Have you been on pilgrimage, or whither have you been faring ?" "The Maid sent for me right early, for to-day she rides to Jargeau, and to you she sends a message of her love,"-- as indeed she had done, "but, for the great press of affairs she might not visit you." "And Mistress Elliot Hume, has she forgiven her lover yet?
nay, I see by your face that you are forgiven! And you go south, this very day, is it not so ?" "Indeed," I said, "if it is your will that we part, part we must, though I sorrow for it; but none has given me the word to march, save you, my fair nurse and hostess." "Nay, it is not I who shall speed you; nevertheless the Maid is not the only prophetess in this realm of France, and something tells me that we part this day.

But you are weary; will you get you to your chamber, or sit in the garden under the mulberry-tree, and I shall bring you out a cup of white wine." Weary I was indeed, and the seat in the garden among the flowers seemed a haven most desirable.

So thither I went, leaning on her shoulder, and she returned to bring the wine, but was some while absent, and I sat deep in thought.