It was the one appeal to touch her, and he knew it.
“No,” she said, “I wouldn’t have you be a coward. Go if you must; but, oh, Allan dear, be careful of yourself for my sake!”
“I will,” he promised and kissed her again, as she went with him down the stairs. “I’ve got to put on my shoes,” he added. “I thought maybe I could get away and be back and in bed again without anyone knowing.”
“Let me put them on,” she said quickly. “You can never manage it. You know, in the old days, the ladies used to buckle on the armour of their knights,” and she took the shoes from him, pressed him into a chair and knelt before him.
“I’m sure no knight ever had a fairer lady,” and he caressed her hair with tender hand.
He could feel the head lift proudly.
“Nor any lady a braver knight,” she said.
“‘I could not love thee, dear, so much,
Loved I not honour more!’”
Allan hummed. “But what an imagination you’ve got, Mamie!”