She got to her feet very slow, and stepped down the bank to the edge of the burn; so, standing close at his knee, she spoke once again:—
“In the city where the wall is jasper and the gates are twelve pearls, will there be any villeins to labour while other men feast?”
Her face was very near to his, her hand was on his arm.
“Nay, but I trow we 'll all be villeins there,” he answered gently; “villeins of one Lord, and bound to the soil; and the streets of that city are as pure gold.” So saying, he made the sign of the cross upon her brow.
She trod the stepping-stones in silence, but on the other bank she turned:—
“Natheless, though bond, yet we 'll be free!” she cried; and, catching up the squire's dagger, was quickly gone.
CHAPTER IV
A Boon
HEN Parliament was come to an end in Gloucester, and on the night before the day that the court set out for London, Stephen craved a boon of his King.