In this strange and unseemly fashion did I first come into the knowledge of this admirable Maid—­whom, alas!  I was to see more often sad than merry, and weeping rather than laughing, though, even in her utmost need, her heart could be light and her mirth free:  a manner that is uncommon even among brave men, but, in women, never known by me save in her.  For it is the way of women to be very busy and seriously concerned about the smallest things, whereat a man only smiles.  But she, with her life at stake, could pluck gaiety forth of danger, if the peril threatened none but herself.  These manners of hers I learned to know and marvel at in the later days that came too soon; but now in my chamber, I shifted my wet raiment for dry with a heart wondrous light.  My craig {13} was in peril, as we say, neither less nor more than half an hour agone, but I had escaped the anger of Elliot; and even, as I deemed, had won more of her good countenance, seeing that I had struck a blow for Scotland and for her friend.  This thought made me great cheer in my heart; as I heard, from the room below, the voices of the two girls devising together very seriously for nigh the space of an hour.  But, knowing that they might have matters secret between themselves to tell of, for the Maiden had said that she brought good tidings, I kept coy and to myself in my little upper chamber.  To leave the house, indeed, was more than my life was worth.  Now to fly and hide was what I could not bring myself to venture; here I would stay where my heart was, and take what fortune the saints might send.  So I endured to wait, and not gladden myself with the sight of Elliot, and the knowledge of how I now stood with her.  To me this was great penance, but at last the voices ceased, and, looking secretly from the window, I saw the Maiden depart, her archer following her.

Now I could no longer bridle in my desire to be with Elliot, and learn whether I was indeed forgiven, and how I stood in her favour.  So, passing down the stair that led from my cubicle, I stood at the door of the room wherein she was and knocked twice.  But none answered, and, venturing to enter, I heard the sound of a stifled sob.  She had thrown herself on a settle, her face turned to the wall, and the afternoon sun was shining on her yellow hair, which lay loose upon her shoulders.

I dared to say no word, and she only made a motion of her hand towards me, that I should begone, without showing me the light of her countenance.  On this I went forth stealthily, my heart again very heavy, for the Maiden had spoken of learning good tidings; and wherefore should my mistress weep, who, an hour agone, had been so merry?  Difficult are the ways of women, a language hard to be understood, wherefore “love,” as the Roman says, “is full of anxious fears.”

Much misdoubting how I fared in Elliot’s heart, and devising within myself what this new sorrow of Elliot’s might signify, I half forgot my own danger, yet not so much as to fare forth of the doors, or even into the booth, where customers might come, and I be known.  Therefore I passed into a room behind the booth, where my master was wont to instruct me in my painting; and there, since better might not be, I set about grinding and mixing such colours as I knew that he required.