She leaned in light ease against the stone back of her seat, the rose light cast by her parasol faintly flushed her.  The silence of their retreat seemed accentuated by its background of music from the gardens.  They smiled a second bravely into each other’s eyes, then their glances became entangled, as they had done for a moment when they had stood together in Mount Dunstan park.  For one moment each had been held prisoner then—­now it was for longer.

“Alys of the Sea-Blue Eyes.”

Betty tried to release herself, but could not.

“Sometimes the sea is grey,” she said.

His own eyes were still in hers.

“Hers were the colour of the sea on a day when the sun shines on it, and there are large fleece-white clouds floating in the blue above.  They sparkled and were often like bluebells under water.”

“Bluebells under water sounds entrancing,” said Betty.

He caught his breath slightly.

“They were—­entrancing,” he said.  “That was evidently the devil of it—­saving your presence.”

“I have never objected to the devil,” said Betty.  “He is an energetic, hard-working creature and paints himself an honest black.  Please tell me the rest.”

“Red Godwyn went forth, and after a bloody fight took his enemy’s castle.  If we still lived in like simple, honest times, I should take Dunholm Castle in the same way.  He also took Alys of the Eyes and bore her away captive.”

“From such incidents developed the germs of the desire for female suffrage,” Miss Vanderpoel observed gently.

“The interest of the story lies in the fact that apparently the savage was either epicure or sentimentalist, or both.  He did not treat the lady ill.  He shut her in a tower chamber overlooking his courtyard, and after allowing her three days to weep, he began his barbarian wooing.  Arraying himself in splendour he ordered her to appear before him.  He sat upon the dais in his banquet hall, his retainers gathered about him—­a great feast spread.  In archaic English we are told that the board groaned beneath the weight of golden trenchers and flagons.  Minstrels played and sang, while he displayed all his splendour.”

“They do it yet,” said Miss Vanderpoel, “in London and New York and other places.”

“The next day, attended by his followers, he took her with him to ride over his lands.  When she returned to her tower chamber she had learned how powerful and great a chieftain he was.  She ‘laye softely’ and was attended by many maidens, but she had no entertainment but to look out upon the great green court.  There he arranged games and trials of strength and skill, and she saw him bigger, stronger, and more splendid than any other man.  He did not even lift his eyes to her window.  He also sent her daily a rich gift.”

“How long did this go on?”

“Three months.  At the end of that time he commanded her presence again in his banquet hall.  He told her the gates were opened, the drawbridge down and an escort waiting to take her back to her father’s lands, if she would.”