She laughs clearly, like a bird's sudden song. Hygd awakes and, after an instant's bewilderment, turns her head toward the sound; finding the bed-curtain dropt, she moves it aside a little with her fingers; she watches Lear and Gormflaith for a short time, then the curtain slips from her weak grasp and she lies motionless.
Lear, continuing meanwhile.
Doff it. (Gormflaith kisses him.) Enough. (Kiss)
Unless you do (Kiss) my will (Kiss)
I shall (Kiss) I shall (Kiss) I'll have you (Kiss)
sent (Kiss) to (Kiss)——
Gormflaith. Hush.
Lear.
Come to the garden: you shall hear me there.
Gormflaith.
I dare not leave the Queen.... Yes, yes, I come.
Lear.
No, you are better here: the guard would see you.
Gormflaith.
Not when we reach the pathway near the apple-yard.
They rise.
Lear.
Girl, you are changed: you yield more beauty so.
They go out hand in hand by the doorway at the back. As they pass the crumpled letter Gormflaith drops her handkerchief on it, then picks up handkerchief and letter together and thrusts them into her bosom as she passes out.
Hygd, fingering back the bed-curtain again.
How have they vanished? What are they doing now?
Gormflaith, outside, singing to a quick, chattering tune.
If you have a mind to kiss me
You shall kiss me in the dark:
Yet rehearse, or you might miss me—
Make my mouth your noontide mark....
Gormflaith's voice grows fainter as the song progresses, until all sound is lost.
Hygd.
Does he remember love-ways used with me?
Shall I never know? Is it too near?
I'll watch him at his wooing once again,
Though I peer up at him across my grave-sill.
She gets out of bed and takes several steps toward the garden doorway; she totters and sways, then, turning, stumbles back to the bed for support.
Limbs, will you die? It is not yet the time.
I know more discipline: I'll make you go.
She fumbles along the bed to the head, then, clinging against the wall, drags herself toward the back of the room.
It is too far. I cannot see the wall.
I will go ten more steps: only ten more.
One. Two. Three. Four. Five.
Six. Seven. Eight. Nine. Ten.
Sundown is soon to-day: it is cold and dark.
Now ten steps more, and much will have been done.
One. Two. Three. Four. Ten.
Eleven. Twelve. Sixteen. Nineteen. Twenty.
Twenty-one. Twenty-three. Twenty-eight. Thirty. Thirty-one.
At last the turn. Thirty-six. Thirty-nine. Forty.
Now only once again. Two. Three.
What do the voices say? I hear too many.
The door: but here there is no garden.... Ah!