amiss?"

"In nought, in nought," she said; "but I am troubled, I wot not
wherefore; some thought hath taken hold of me, and I know it not.
Mayhappen in a little while I shall know what troubles me. Now I
bid thee depart from me a little, and I will abide here; and when
thou comest back, it will either be that I have found it out or not;
and in either case I will tell thee."

She spoke earnestly to him; but he said: "How long shall I abide
away?"

Her face was troubled as she answered him: "For no long while."

He smiled on her and turned away, and went a space to the other side
of the oak-trees, whence she was still within eyeshot. There he
abode until the time seemed long to him; but he schooled himself and
forbore; for he said: Lest she send me away again. So he abided
until again the time seemed long to him, and she called not to him:
but once again he forbore to go; then at last he arose, and his
heart beat and he trembled, and he walked back again speedily, and
came to the maiden, who was still standing by the rock of the
spring, her arms hanging down, her eyes downcast. She looked up at
him as he drew nigh, and her face changed with eagerness as she
said: "I am glad thou art come back, though it be no long while
since thy departure" (sooth to say it was scarce half an hour in
all). "Nevertheless I have been thinking many things, and thereof
will I now tell thee."

He said: "Maiden, there is a river betwixt us, though it be no big