The brother, Count Eustace as they called him (to distinguish him from an elder brother, Eudo Count of Saint-Pol), was a blunt copy of his sister, redder than she was, lighter in the hair, much lighter in the eyes.  He seemed an affectionate youth, and clung to the great Count Richard like ivy to a tree.  Richard gave him the sort of scornful affection one has for a little dog, between patting and slapping; but clearly wanted to be rid of him.  No reference was made to the journey, much was taken for granted; Eustace talked of his hawks, Richard ate and drank, Jehane sat up stiffly, looking into the fire; Milo watched her between his mouthfuls.  The moment supper was done, up jumps Richard and claps hands on the two shoulders of young Eustace.  ’To bed, to bed, my falconer!  It grows late,’ cries he.  Eustace pushed his chair back, rose, kissed the Count’s hand and his sister’s forehead, saluted Milo, and went out humming a tune.  Milo withdrew, the servants bowed themselves away.  Richard stood up, a loose-limbed young giant, and narrowed his eyes.

‘Nest thee, nest thee, my bird,’ he said low; and Jehane’s lips parted.  Slowly she left her stool by the fire, but quickened as she went; and at last ran tumbling into his arms.

His right hand embraced her, his left at her chin held her face at discretion.  Like a woman, she reproached him for what she dearly loved.

’Lord, lord, how shall I serve the cup and platter if you hold me so fast?’

‘Thou art my cup, thou art my supper.’

‘Thin fare, poor soul,’ she said; but was glad of his foolishness.

Later, they sat by the hearth, Jehane on Richard’s knee, but doubtfully his, being troubled by many things.  He had no retrospects nor afterthoughts; he tried to coax her into pliancy.  It was the fires in the north that distressed her.  Richard made light of them.

‘Dear,’ he said, ’the King my father is come up with a host to drive the Count his son to bed.  Now the Count his son is master of a good bed, to which he will presently go; but it is not the bed of the King his father.  That, as you know, is of French make, neither good Norman, nor good Angevin, nor seethed in the English mists.  By Saint Maclou and the astonishing works he did, I should be bad Norman, and worse Angevin, and less English than I am, if I loved the French.’

He tried to draw her in; but she, rather, strained away from him, elbowed her knee, and rested her chin upon her hand.  She looked gravely down to the whitening logs, where the ashes were gaining on the red.

‘My lord loves not the French,’ she said, ’but he loves honour.  He is the King’s son, loving his father.’

‘By my soul, I do not,’ he assured her, with perfect truth, then he caught her round the waist and turned her bodily to face him.  After he had kissed her well he began to speak more seriously.

‘Jehane,’ he said, ’I have thought all this stifling night upon the heath, Homing to her I am seeking my best.  My best?  You are all I have in the world.  If honour is in my hand, do I not owe it to you?  Or shall a man use women like dogs, to play with them in idle moods, toss them bones under the table, afterwards kick them out of doors?  Child, you know me better.  What!’ he cried out, with his head very high, ’Shall a man not choose his own wife?’