‘Richard, O Richard, touch me not!’

‘God on the Cross, what is this?’

‘Touch me not, touch me never; but never leave me!’

‘O my pale rose!  O fair-girdled!’ She stood up, white as her gown, transfigured, very serious.

’I am not thy wife, Richard; I am no man’s wife.  No, but I am thy slave, bound to thee by a curse, held from thee by thy high calling.  I dare not leave thee, my Richard, nor dare stay by thee so close, lest ruin come of it.’

Richard watched her, frowning.  He was much moved, but thought of what she said.

‘Ruin, Jehane, ruin?’

’Ruin of thy venture, my knight of God!  Ah, chosen, elect, comrade of the Rood, gossip of Jesus Christ, duke dedicate!’ She was hued like flame as the great thoughts leaped in her.  ’Ah, my Christian King, it is so little a thing I ask of thee, to set me apart!  What am I to thee, whose bride is the virgin city, the holy place?  What is Jehane, a poor thing handed about, to vex heaven, or be a stumbling-block in the way of the Cross?  Put me away, Richard, let me go; have done with me, sweet lord.’  And then swiftly she ran and clasped his knees:  ’But ask me not to leave thee—­no, but I dare not indeed!’ Her tears streamed freely now.  When Richard with a cry snatched her up, she lay weeping like a lost child in his arms.

He laid her on the bed, worn frail by the strife she had endured; she had no strength to open her eyes, but moved her lips to thank him for his pains.  At first she turned her head from side to side, seeking a cool place on the pillow; later she fell into a heavy, drugged sleep.  He watched her till it was nearly light, brooding over her unconscious face.  No thoughts of a king were his, I think; but once more he lapped them in that young girl’s bosom, and let them sway, ebb and flow, with it.

On the flow, great with her theme, he saw her inspired, standing with her torch of flame to point his road.  A splintry way leads to the Cross, where even kings consecrate must tear their feet.  If he knew himself, as at such naked hours he must, he knew whither his heart was set.  He was to lead the armies of Christendom, because no other man could do it.  Had he any other pure and stern desire but that?  None.  If he could win back the Sepulchre, new plant the Holy Cross, set a Christian king on the throne below Golgotha, keep word with God Who had bowed to him from the Rood, give the heathen sword for sword, and hold the armed world like a spear in his hand, to shake as he shook—­God of all power and might, was this not worthy his heart?

His heart and Jehane’s!  The flowing bosom ebbed, and drained him of all but pity.  He saw her like a dead flower, wan, bruised, thrown away.  Robbery!  He had stolen her by force.  He clenched his two hands about his knee and shook himself to and fro.  Thief!  Damned thief!  Had he made her amends?  He groaned.  Not yet.  Should she not be crowned?  She prayed that she