“Worthy? Of my love?” he stammered. “But O Melissa, I am but he thou didst name harsh of tongue.”
“Aye, I did!” she sobbed.
“Hard of heart, flinty of soul, rude, unmannered and unlovely.”
“Aye—I did and—loved thee the while!” she whispered. “So now do I pray that I prove worthy.”
“Worthy? Thou? O my sweet maid—thou that art kin to the holy angels, thou so high and far removed 'bove me that I do tremble and—fear to touch thee—“.
“Nay, fear me not, Pertinax,” she sighed, “for though indeed I am all this, yet maid am I also and by times—very human. So Pertinax, thou great, fearless man-at-arms, lay by thy so great fears a while—I do beseech thee.” Then Sir Pertinax, beholding the tender passion of her eyes, forgot his fear in glad wonderment and, reaching out hands that trembled for all their strength, drew her to his close embracement.
And thus, kneeling together upon the sun-dappled sward, they forgot all things in this joyous world save only their love and the glory of it. And when they had kissed each other—
My daughter GILLIAN remonstrateth:
GILL: But, wait, they haven't yet, you know!
MYSELF: Indeed, they have, I've just said so.
GILL: Then, father, please to tell me this:
How can a person say a kiss?
And so, since kisses can't be said,
Please make them do it now instead.
Thus, cradled in his strong arms, she questioned him tenderly: