Something in his eyes persuaded her to humor him.
“It is good to be strong,” she said.
And Martin felt strangely happy.
She mounted, and they went down to the ford. Mellis rode in to show the way, and Martin splashed after her, planting his feet carefully, for the bottom was full of pebbles.
She looked back.
“Remember the flour.”
For the first time he saw a gleam of laughter in her eyes, a glimmer of sweet youthfulness.
“It shall come to no harm,” he answered, smiling back, and thinking her the most beautiful thing in the world.
Chapter XIX
The day was far spent when they came to the valley in the heart of the woods where the ruined house of the Dales stood on that white blossoming island in the midst of the water. Mellis had dismounted half a league from the ford, and had refused to go forward until Martin had loaded the baggage again on the horse’s back.