"'And by night, or eke by day,
The Crystal Heart all must obey!'"
So saying he got him down from the ass and, for all his corpulence, louted
full low.
"Sir Knight of Shene," quoth he, "by reason of this jewel potential thou
dost bear, now must I perforce obey thy behest and wed thee unto this
our gracious lady Benedicta, Duchess of Ambremont, Canalise, Tissingors,
Fordyngstoke and divers other towns, villages and--"
"Duchess--a duchess?" exclaimed Sir Pertinax. "Duchess say'st thou--this,
the Duchess Benedicta! O Melissa--thou--thou--a duchess!"
"Sooth and forsooth," sighed she in pretty mockery, "I do fear I am!"
"Then thou 'rt no humble maid, distressful and forlorn, Melissa?"
"Yea, Pertinax--all this am I indeed unless thou love me, and loving me,
wed me, and wedding me love me the better therefor, and loving me ever the
better, thou may'st learn a little some day how a woman may love a man."
"Par Dex!" mumbled Sir Pertinax, kissing her rosy finger-tips, "be thou
duchess or witch-maid o' the wood, I do love thee heart and soul, body and
mind, now and for ever, Melissa.
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