And seeing his trouble she answered him gently: "Meseems thou couldst not do anything I would not understand." Flame ConfessethDrawing her close within the shelter of his arms he said, "Thou believest that I love thee as my heart's blood?"

"Verily," she made answer, "that must I needs believe, else could I not wed thee." Then because he was silent a space, as one thinking, she said, "What is it that thou wouldst say to me?"

With quick words then he spake on this wise: "Know then that there was a woman—a witch that made herself as a woman of moonlight, beautiful exceedingly, that I should follow her. And forasmuch as mine eyes and my blood are as the sea, I Speech Faileth Himmight not refrain, for my weakness, but followed her as the sea the moon. And we came into the desert, and there remained for a space." Then did the speech of Flame fail him, for that he knew not how to say that which must be said.

And Roseheart looked upon him shrinkingly, and put away his arms, and rose, and stood away from him. And in her eyes that had held stars, there came a mist, as when the heavens grow dull with that which is not storm, but more like to sickness. "And thou—" she whispered, "didst thou give thyself to this woman?" Life Dishonoured"Yea, but in the way of the flesh only," he answered, shamefast. "I know not if a maid can understand."

Then was Roseheart silent a space, whereafter she said slowly, "Meseems that therein lay the sin of what thou didst. Hadst thou given thyself body and soul, thy sin against me had been greater, but methinks then would it have been less against the Lord God, whose gift of life thou hast dishonoured."

Then spake Flame eagerly, "But I told thee she was a witch-woman. Thou rememberest the Radiant One?"

The Radiant One"Aye." The Princess Roseheart was grave and sorrowful. "When that I turned me away from the moon-woman I saw the Radiant One, and she came and said naught, but shed her light upon the woman, and I saw that she was not beautiful, like the moon, but a hag, and leprous. Wherefore, looking about me I saw the bones of the dead. And I rose and fled away from that place."

"Thou didst well."

Then was Flame filled with terror that though she spake in all gentleness, his love Roseheart was become as a stranger to him. Straightway he went to Flame Shamefasther, saying, "Canst thou not forgive?"

"I know not," she made answer, with the weariness of one in mortal pain.