And now Beltane’s breath grew short and thick, his strong hand trembled on the bridle, and he grew alternate hot and cold.  So rode they into the echoing courtyard whither hasted old Godric to welcome them, and divers servants to take their horses.  Being ushered forthwith into the garden, now who so silent and awkward as my Beltane, what time his lady Duchess made known to him her gentle ladies, among whom sweet Genevra, flushed of cheek, gazed breathless upon Giles even as Giles gazed upon her—­who so mumchance as Beltane, I say, who saw and heard and was conscious only of one among them all.  And who so stately, so calm-voiced and dignified as this one until—­aye, until they stood alone together, and then—­

To see her sway to his fierce arms, all clinging, yearning womanhood, her state and dignity forgotten quite!  To hear her voice soft and low and all a-thrill with love, broken with sighs and sinking to passionate-whispered questioning: 

“And thou art come back to me at last.  Beltane!  Hast brought to me my heart unharmed from the battle, beloved!  And thou didst take no hurt—­ no hurt, my Beltane?  And art glad to see—­thy—­wife, Beltane?  And dost love me—­as much as ever, Beltane?  O wilt never, never leave me desolate again, my lord—­art thou mine—­mine henceforth as I am thine, Beltane?  And wilt desire me ever near thee, my lord?”

“Helen,” said he, “O my ’Helen the Beautiful’—­our wars be ended, our time of waiting is done, I thank God!  So am I here to claim thee, beloved.  Art glad to be in mine arms—­glad I am come to—­make thee mine own at last, Helen?”

“I had died without thee, Beltane—­I would not live without thee now, my Beltane.  See, my lord, I—­O how may I speak if thus you seal my lips, Beltane?  And prithee how may I show thee this gown I wear for thee if thou wilt hold me so—­so very close, Beltane?”

And in a while as the moon rose she brought him into that bower he well remembered and bade him admire the beauty of her many flowers, and he, viewing her loveliness alway, praised the flowers exceeding much yet beheld them not at all, wherefore she chid him, and yet chiding, yielded him her scarlet mouth.  Thus walked they in the fragrant garden until Genevra found them and sweet-voiced bid them in to sup.  But the Duchess took Genevra’s slender hands and looked within her shy, sweet eyes.

“Art happy, sweet maid?” she questioned.

“O dear my lady, methinks in all this big world is none more happy than thy grateful Genevra.”

“Then haste thee back to thy happiness, dear Genevra, to-morrow we will see thee wed.”

And presently came they within a small chamber and here Beltane did off his armour, and here they supped together, though now the lady Helen spake little and ate less, and oft her swift-flushing cheek rebuked the worshipping passion of his eyes; insomuch that presently she arose and going into the great chamber beyond, came back, and kneeling at his feet, showed him a file.