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And afterward, I made her to stand upon the rock, and I set free her hair over
her shoulders; and I took then the boots from her, so that her little feet did
show bare and pretty. And she, at the first, half to refuse me; but afterward
to stand very dear and obedient that I should have my way with her; and to be
a little shy, and the more pretty because of her sweet blushings.
And surely, when that I had her to my likings, I stept back a little pace, and
lookt at her. And she to look again at me, very quaint and naughty; and then
to turn her about, very grave; and to make pretend that she did be a dummy
figure. And, surely, when she did be come right round, and to face me again,
and had a very sedate look, she stretched out her pretty foot, all in a
moment, and put her pink toes sudden upon my lips; and I to be so in surprise,
that I had not wit to do aught, ere she had them back swift from me. And she
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then to make one glad spring into mine arms, and to want that she be hugged,
and to be loved very great. And I to laugh, all
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171
tender; for I loved her so utter, as you do know; and I to tell her, as you
sure likewise to have told your maid, that I wanted a pocket sufficient, that
I might have her therein alway anigh to my heart; and this thing I to say to
her, as a man that doth love, shall say it; and you to know the way of it so
well as I. And she to laugh very mischievous, and to tell me that she should
truly tickle me, if that I carried her thatwise; aye and to pinch me, too. And
I to have no answer, save that I shake her, very gentle, but indeed she to
kiss me very naughty on the mouth, in the midst of my shaking; and truly, what
shall a man do with such an one.
And she then to want to be more sedate and to be set down upon the rock; and
she to make me to turn around, so that she should come at the pouch, which did
be upon my back.
And she gat thence the comb that was a fitment, and did comb her pretty hair,
and I to sit and talk with her, and to jest, with a heart that did be so light
as it had not been for a great while; for though I did dread the
Humpt Men and the monstrous animals of the Country of Seas, I had not any
abiding horror of aught that I
had seen in that Country; for there seemed a naturalness in all things, so
that I did have no loathing; neither any fear of an Evil Force.
And presently, when that the Maid had combed her hair, she to bind it upon her
head; but I to ask that she leave it upon her shoulders, because that it did
be so pretty; and she to smile at me, and to be happy to my pleasuring.
Now we did be truly sedate, and to set our gear together; and I to put the
boots upon the Maid; and afterward we to begin again to journey downward into
the Country of the Seas.
And we went at a good pace; but not to bring us to any great weariness; for it
was mine intent that we rest for our slumber upon this side of the place where
did be the steam of the boilings, that was anigh to the shore of the sea, as
you shall mind.
And we at this time to be passing along the feet of the mountains, unto the
place of the steam; and to go thiswise for six good hours, and still to be a
great hour off that part; for we went not so fierce as did be the speed of
mine outward way, which was utter strong, as you do mind, that have gone with
me in all my journey.
And so, when we had walkt six hours, we did be gone something beyond the
eighteenth hour of that day's journeying; and to be very ready to our slumber.
Now, presently we found a tall rock, very hard to climb, that had a flat top
so great as may be twice my length everyways; and this to be very good to our
purpose. And when we were come safe to the top, we to eat and drink, and
presently to sleep, and to have the cloak under us, as did be the will of the
Maid; for the Country did be utter warm and nice, so that we had no occasion
for covering.
And surely, we waked, both of us when that we had slept seven good hours; and
we sat upward, and lookt newly each at the other; and to be as that we did
each see the other anew in that good light, and to have a fresh joy each in
the look of the other. And she to come into mine arms, and to kiss and to need
that she be kist; and truly, we both to have our need; but yet to be something
the more hungry of the other, for the having.
And Mine Own then to make our breakfast; and the water to fizz very strong and
surprising; and we to eat and drink, and to be utter happy each with the
other, and to talk on this thing and that, and the Maid to look about, as we
eat; and she to look afar off at the wonders and the newness of the Country to
her knowledge; but I to look near, lest there be any danger that might be
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anigh.
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And in a while, Mine Own to draw my gaze to the Mountains that the Gorge came
through. And, in verity, now that I did look in ease, I to see with her how
that they did be truly monstrous, even as a monstrous wall that did go upward
for ever until that they were gone out of the light of that Country, into the
dark night of the deathly Upper World, that did be lost an eternity. And I to
mind that I had some vague thoughts thiswise, on the outward way; but now I to
have ease, and the Maid to speak with, and so to perceive odd matters the
more.
And I to tell you this little thing, so that you shall perceive the way that
restfulness did be upon me, by compare with the Outward Going.
And, truly, we had no great speed with our talk and with our eating; but in
the end did make somewhat to hurry, because that we did be conscious that we
leaned to slackness. And indeed, we came down then pretty speedy from the rock
where we did sleep; and had forward to our way at a good pace.
And when we had gone a while, we to begin to hear the far hissing of the steam
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