CHAPTER X

NIGHT-WORK BY THE DARK TOWER

I chronicle wild doings in this place, and have no time for the sweets of love long denied.  But strange as the bridal had been, so the nuptials were strange, one like the other played to a steel undertone.  When Richard had his Jehane, at first he could not enjoy her.  He rode away with her like a storm; the way was long, the pace furious.  Not a word had passed between them, at least not a reasoned word.  Once or twice at first he leaned forward over her shoulder and set his cheek to her glowing cheek.  Then she, as if swayed by a tide, strained back to him, and felt his kisses hot and eager, his few and pelting words, ’My bride—­at last—­my bride!’ and the pressure of his hand upon her heart.  That hand knows what tune the heart drummed out.  Mostly she sat up before him stiff as a sapling, with eyes and ears wide for any hint of pursuit.  But he felt her tremble, and knew she would be glad of him yet.

After all, they had six burning days for a honeymoon, days which made those three who with them held the tower wonder how such a match could continue.  Richard’s love rushed through him like a river in flood, that brims its banks and carries down bridges by its turbid mass; but hers was like the sea, unresting, ebbing, flowing, without aim or sure direction.  As is usual with reserved persons, Jehane’s transports, far from assuaging, tormented her, or seemed a torment.  She loved uneasily, by hot and cold fits; now melting, now dry, now fierce in demand, next passionate in refusal.  To snatch of love succeeded repulsion of love.  She would fling herself headlong into Richard’s arms, and sob there, feverish; then, as suddenly, struggle for release, as one who longs to hide herself, and finding that refused, lie motionless like a woman of wax.  Whether embraced or not, out of touch with him she was desperate.  She could not bear that, but sought (unknown to him) to have hold of some part of him—­the edge of his tunic, the tip of his sword, his glove—­something she must have.  Without it she sat quivering, throbbing all over, looking at him from under her brows and biting her dumb lips.  If at such a time as this some other addressed her the word (as, to free her from her anguish, one would sometimes do), she would perhaps answer him, Yes or No, but nothing more.  Usually she would shake her head impatiently, as if all the world and its affairs (like a cloud of flies) were buzzing about her, shutting out sound or sight of her Richard.  Love like this, so deep, outwardly still, inwardly ravening (because insatiable), is a dreadful thing.  No one who saw Jehane with Richard in those days could hope for the poor girl’s happiness.  As for him, he was more expansive, not at all tortured by love, master of that as of everything else.  He teased her after the first day, pinched her ear, held her by the chin.  He used his strange powers