Then I in my turn, sick even at the memory of it, told how the braves of Emola had found the ring with the ancient setting and how I had given her up for lost, and then I learned how she had given this ring to a waiting-maid of the household of Laudonnière in recompense for her kindness and service to Madame. Thus all was explained.
That night when we had eaten, we went out into the sweet-scented woods and seated ourselves upon a bed of moss under a wide-spreading oak. The sun had set and the twilight fell down upon us warm and soft as the touch of velvet. The breeze had blown into the west, where great banks of clouds hid the last glorious rays of this wonderful day of ours. For a long time we sat silent, fearing to break upon the hush of the animate things about us. Every twig was sleeping and over us fell that deep mysterious spell of the giant forest which linked us with time. For the nonce we were instincts only, symbols of nature, apiece with eternity.
We were so happy that we knew how little was the meaning of mere words. At last Mademoiselle sighed deeply.
“It is the end of travail,” she said. “The world is as tired and as content as we.”
“Thou art so content?” I asked, bending over her.
“Not too content, monsieur. Perhaps ’tis by contrast with what has gone before.” She said it with a touch of coquetry, that last ingredient which goes to make a woman. For all my boorishness, I understood.
“Yes, thou art happy. I can see it by thine eyes. As for me, I will be happy when I see the roses blooming in thy cheeks again.”
She made an impatient gesture. “For shame upon such a loutish speech! Thou art not happy!”
“You would say that the roses bloom not in my cheeks----”
“Am I so pale, monsieur? And so uncomely? In my life I have heard nothing so ungallant! Think you I can find mirror and lady’s-maid in this wild place? Monsieur--if you like me not----”
Scorning further parley, I had but one answer for this protesting.
A little soft gray squirrel, belated, had come down from a tree near by and sat upon his haunches, switching his tail and looking at us most curiously.
“Upon my word, I find you a most forward person,” said my lady, brushing back her hair from her temples.
“And I, by your leave, find you most impertinent, and therefore quite strong enough to make a journey with me.”