"John," she murmured, "in any matter but this I should obey them; but—but——" She broke down under the mental strain. It was a terrible struggle between conflicting affections, and, unable to sustain it, she would have fallen in a faint upon the ground had not the strong arms of her lover supported her.
Manners laid her gently down upon the bank and sprinkled some water upon her, for they were on the slopes of the Wye, and in a few moments she mastered her feelings and opened her eyes.
"I am dizzy," she apologetically exclaimed, as she saw the form of her beloved bending over her. "I shall be better soon."
She fulfilled her prediction quickly, and when he would have led her back into the Hall she begged him to wait.
"Nay, nay, John," she said, "the Lady Maude will soon devise a plan for separating us, but let us remain together while we may."
"But, Doll, you are ill," he exclaimed, "and I must take good care of thee."
"I should be worse were I severed from thee," she sweetly replied, "and, John, I have somewhat to tell thee."
"Speak on then, sweet one."
"You will be true to me, John, whatever happens?" she asked.
She was timid to approach the subject, and blushed deeply at the sound of her own sweet voice. She had more than half a mind to take the words back lest they should strike a single pang into his heart, but they were spoken, and before she could enter into any explanation, he had bent down and kissed her.