The moon was already filling the night with her soft splendour when Beltane, coming to a certain wall, swung himself up, and, being there, paused to breathe the sweet perfume of the flowers whose languorous fragrance wrought in him a yearning deep and passionate, and ever as love-longing grew, bitterness and anger were forgot. Very still was it within this sheltered garden, where, fraught by the moon's soft magic, all things did seem to find them added beauties.
But, even as he paused thus, he heard a step approaching, a man's tread, quick and light yet assured, and he beheld one shrouded in a long cloak of blue, a tall figure that hasted through the garden and vanished behind the tall yew hedge.
Down sprang Beltane fierce-eyed, trampling the tender flowers under cruel feet, and as he in turn passed behind the hedge the moon glittered evilly on his dagger blade. Quick and soft of foot went he until, beholding a faint light amid the leaves, he paused, then hasted on and thus came to an arbour bowered in eglantine.
She sat at a table where burned a rushlight that glowed among the splendour of her hair, for her head was bowed above the letter she was writing.
Now as he stood regarding her 'neath frowning brows, she spake, yet lifted not her shapely head.
"Well, my lord?"
"Helen, where is he that came here but now?"
Slowly she lifted her head, and setting white hands 'neath dimpled chin, met his frown with eyes of gentleness.
"Nay, first put up thy dagger, my lord."
"Helen," said he again, grim-lipped, "whom dost wait for?"
"Nay, first put up thy dagger, messire."
Frowning he obeyed, and came a pace nearer.
"What do you here with pen and ink-horn?"
"My lord, I write."
"To whom?"
"To such as it pleaseth me."
"I pray you--show me."
"Nay, for that doth not please me, messire."
"I pray you, who was he that came hither but now--a tall man in a long blue cloak?"
"I saw him not, my lord."
"So needs must I see thy letter."
"Nay, that thou shalt not, my lord," said she, and rose to her stately height.
"Aye, but I shall!" quoth Beltane softly, and came a pace yet nearer.
Now because of the grim and masterful look of him, her heart fell a-fluttering, yet she fronted him scornful-eyed, and curled her red lip at him.
"Messire," said she, "methinks you do forget I am the--"
"I remember thou art woman and thy name--Helen!"
Now at this laughed she softly and thereafter falleth to singing very sweet and blithe and merry withal.