Part 35 (1/2)
”Thou poor Pertinax! How empty--how drear thy life. For this do I pity thee with pity kin to love--”
”Love?” he whispered. ”Ah, Melissa, couldst e'en learn to love one so unlovely, so rude, so rough and unmannered as I?”
”Never!” she sighed, ”O, never--unless thou teach me?”
”Would indeed I might, Melissa. Ah, teach me how I may teach thee to love one so unworthy as Pertinax!”
Now hearkening to his harsh voice grown soft and tremulous, beholding the truth in his honest eyes, Melissa smiled, wondrous tender, and reaching out took hold upon his two hands.
”Kneel!” she commanded. ”Kneel here upon the gra.s.s as I do kneel. Now, lay by thy c.u.mbrous helmet. Now fold thy great, strong hands. Now bow thy tall, grim head and say in sweet, soft accents low and reverent: 'Melissa, I do love thee heart and soul, thee only do I love and thee only will I love now and for ever. So aid me, Love, amen!'” Then, closing his eyes, Sir Pertinax bowed reverent head, and, humbly folding his hands, spake as she bade him.
Thereafter opening his eyes, he saw her watching him through gathering tears, and leaning near, he reached out eager arms, yet touched her not.
Quoth he: ”O maid beloved, what is thy sorrow?”
”'Tis joy--joy, and thou--thou art so strong and fierce yet so gentle and simple of heart! O, may I prove worthy thy love--”
”Worthy? Of my love?” he stammered. ”But O Melissa, I am but he thou didst name harsh of tongue.”
”Aye, I did!” she sobbed.
”Hard of heart, flinty of soul, rude, unmannered and unlovely.”
”Aye--I did and--loved thee the while!” she whispered. ”So now do I pray that I prove worthy.”
”Worthy? Thou? O my sweet maid--thou that art kin to the holy angels, thou so high and far removed 'bove me that I do tremble and--fear to touch thee--”.
”Nay, fear me not, Pertinax,” she sighed, ”for though indeed I am all this, yet maid am I also and by times--very human. So Pertinax, thou great, fearless man-at-arms, lay by thy so great fears a while--I do beseech thee.” Then Sir Pertinax, beholding the tender pa.s.sion of her eyes, forgot his fear in glad wonderment and, reaching out hands that trembled for all their strength, drew her to his close embracement.
And thus, kneeling together upon the sun-dappled sward, they forgot all things in this joyous world save only their love and the glory of it. And when they had kissed each other--
My daughter GILLIAN remonstrateth:
GILL: But, wait, they haven't yet, you know!
MYSELF: Indeed, they have, I've just said so.
GILL: Then, father, please to tell me this: How can a person say a kiss?
And so, since kisses can't be said, Please make them do it now instead.
Thus, cradled in his strong arms, she questioned him tenderly:
”Dost mind how, upon a day, my Pertinax, didst ask of me the amulet I bore within my bosom?”
”Aye,” he answered, ”and sure 'tis charm of potent magic whose spell brought us out of the dungeon at Ca.n.a.lise--the which is great matter for wonder! But 'tis for thy dear sake I do cherish it--”
”Bear you it yet?”
”Here upon my heart.”
”And if I should ask it of thee again--wouldst render it back to me?”