knight's helmet which he held up to her. Then with his finger he
counted the pearls upon her neck. When he had finished she clapped her
hands as though she had won a bet. After this they began to whisper to
each other, at least he whispered and she smiled and shook her head.
Finally, she seemed to give way, for she unfastened the flower which
she wore in the breast of her dress, and presented to him. Godfrey
started at the sight which caused him to take his fingers from his
ears and clutch the bush. A dry twig broke with a loud crack.

"What's that?" said Isobel.

"Don't know," answered Lord Charles. "What a funny girl you are,
always seeing and hearing things. A stray cat, I expect; London
squares are full of them. Now I have won my lady's favour and she must
fasten it to my helm after the ancient fashion."

"Can't," said Isobel. "There are no pins in Plantagenet dresses."

"Then I must do it for myself. Kiss it first, that was the rule, you
know."

"Very well," said Isobel. "We must keep up the game, and there are
worse things to kiss than roses."

He held the flower to her and she bent forward to touch it with her
lips. Suddenly he did the same, and their lips came very close
together on either side of the rose.

This was too much for Godfrey. He glided forward, as the stray cat
might have done, of which the fine knight had spoken, meaning to