"If men knew--what?"
"If men knew--" She paused, and blushed, and laughed again. "If men
knew how women love sweet words when they are happy, and sharp deeds
when they are angry! That is what I mean. I would have given my blood
and the Queen's kingdom for a kiss when you left me standing there."
"I wish I had known!" exclaimed Gilbert, happy but half perplexed.
"You ought to have known," answered the girl.
Her eyebrows were raised a little with the half-pathetic look he loved,
while her mouth smiled.
"I shall never understand," he said, but he began to laugh too.
"I will tell you. In the first place, I shall never be angry with you
again--never! Do you believe me, Gilbert?"
"Of course I do," he answered, having nothing else to say.
"Very well. But if I ever should be--"
"But you just said that you never would be!"
"I know; but if I should--just once--then take me in your arms, and say
nothing, but kiss me as you did that day by the river."
"I understand," he said. "Are you angry now?" But he was laughing.
"Almost," she answered, glancing sideways in a smile.
"Not quite?"
"Yes, quite!" And her eyes darkened under the drooping lids.
Then he held her so close to him that she was half breathless, and
kissed her till it hurt, and she turned pale again, and her eyes were
closed.
[Illustration: THE WAY OF THE CROSS]
"You see," she said very faintly, "I believe you now!"
Here ends the story of Gilbert Warde's crusading; for he had reached
the end of his Via Crucis in the Holy City, and had at last found peace
for his soul, and light and rest for his heart, after many troubles and
temptations, and after much brave fighting for the good cause of the
Faith against unbelievers.
Pages:
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373