"Ah, dost thou weep?" he cried.
Yolande sobbed again, whereupon down fell he beside her on his knees, "Dear
lady, why grievest thou?"
"O Joconde," she sighed, "I am indeed solitary--and fearful! And thou--thou
dost mock me!"
"Forgive me," he pleaded humbly, "and, since thou'rt solitary, here am I.
And, for thy fears, nought is here shall harm thee, here may'st thou sleep
secure--"
"Stay, Joconde, the forest is haunted of wolves and--worse, 'tis said!"
"Then will I watch beside thee till the day. And now will I go cut bracken
for thy bed."
"Then will I aid thee." So she arose forthwith and, amid the fragrant
gloom, they laboured together side by side; and oft in the gloom her hand
touched his, and oft upon his cheek and brow and lip was the silken touch
of her wind-blown hair. Then beneath arching willows they made a bed,
high-piled of springy bracken and sweet grasses, whereon she sank nestling,
forthwith.
"O, 'tis sweet couch!" she sighed.
"Yet thou'lt be cold mayhap ere dawn," quoth he, "suffer me to set my cloak
about thee.
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