The night before Guy went away--can it be two evenings since,--only two?--we crept into the long gallery, as we two always do when we want a quiet talk, and sat down in that window from which you get the lovely view of the church spire through the trees, across the river. That is always our favourite window. Guy was trying to comfort me, and I am rather afraid I was crying. And he said, drawing me up to him, and kissing me,--
"Now, my little Elaine, there have been tears enough for once. I am not going to forget thee, any more than thou meanest to forget me. When I have fought the Saracens, and taken Saladin captive, and brought him in chains to Jerusalem, and the King has made me a Count, and given me a beautiful lady for my wife, and everybody is talking about me,"--of course I knew that was only Guy's fun; he did not really expect all that,--"then," he went on, "I will send home for Amaury and my little pet, and you shall come to me in the Holy Land. Monseigneur promised me that, thou knowest. He said it would be an excellent thing for thee; because thou wouldst not only have all thy sins forgiven at the Holy Sepulchre, but very likely I should have the chance of getting a good husband for thee. And I have talked well to Amaury about taking care of thee on the journey; and Marguerite must attend thee. So look forward to that, Lynette, and dry those red eyes."
"They will be red till thou comest back, Guy!" said I, with another burst of tears.
"I am sure I hope not!" he answered, laughing. "They will be very ugly if they are; and then how am I to get thee a husband?"
"I don't care about one, I thank thee," said I "So that does not signify."
"Ah, that is because thou art fourteen," said Guy; "wait till thou art four-and-twenty."
There, now! if I could have been vexed with my own dear Guy, and just when he was going away for ever--at least it looks very like for ever--but of course I could not. But why will men--even the very best of them--always fancy that a girl cares more for a husband than anything else in this world? However, I let it pass. How could I quarrel with Guy?
"Guy," I said, "dost thou care very much about having a beautiful lady for thy wife?"
"Oh, certainly!" replied Guy, pursing up his lips, and pretending to be grave.