"Yes," she said, a warmer rose coming to her cheek, "but my knight promised to blot that page from his memory.
"And so he endeavoured; but to no purpose."
"My brave knight was also an unmerciful tyrant."
"In the fines he levied," he said, leaning towards her; "they were the sweetest he ever had."
A soft light came to Vaura's face, as leaning into her corner she gave herself up to thoughts of the bygone. And she smiled now her woman's smile in the eyes that were on her face. And yet sighed as she thought of the jealousy of her boyish lovers of bygone days, for Roland Douglas and Guy had rebuked her for so often in the tales she wove for their amusement, having Lion Heart as the favoured knight.
"My girlish days at Haughton Hall were very, very happy," she said, quietly.
"And yet you would not go back to them and leave the dear present," said Lionel, looking into her eyes with his mesmeric look, and holding her hand tight as he assisted her from the carriage after Lady Esmondet, at the door of the villa.
"How know you, my brave lion-heart; you belong to those days, but I am content."