"Did he tell you his name?"
"Ay, my child, and although you have told me nought, I cannot help believing that his coming will be good news to you. His name is Roland Rashcliffe."
"Tell me more! Tell me more!"
After that I could not stay outside a moment longer, for she spoke with eagerness and joy. I called to mind the look she had given me when we stood together in the presence of the king, and I felt that she had not forgotten me.
Without ado I opened the door, and stood before them. At first I thought she looked afraid, and this made me say what I should not have dared to say otherwise.
"Constance," I said, "I could not come before, but I have loved you all the time, even as I told you I should."
Her eyes were lifted to mine as if in great wonder, then I saw the tears well up in them; but they were not tears of sorrow.
"You are not angry with me, are you?" I said.
And then she burst out sobbing upon my shoulder, while I, unheeding Master Day and his wife, strained her to my heart.
We did not stay long at the cottage. I gave Master Day enough money to meet his needs for some time to come, and then Constance and I walked to Goodlands together along the silent, lonely road whither she had come.