"Even so. I am come to persuade thee that thou wilt not go on the errand
thou wottest of two nights hence. There are those who do mean thee
death. It is certain that thy life is plotted against. Surely thou wilt
be warned?" And as I looked, the color left the lad's face, and he grew
white as any woman. Almost I could have sworn it was my lady's face.
Line for line, eyelash for eyelash, look for look. And methought no
mother's heart e'er yearned towards her new-born babe as yearned my
heart towards the youth. It seemed as though I must cry out to him. To
see him thus after five weary years; to be so near him, and yet unable
to touch even the latchet of his shoes, or to hear his voice calling my
name. I trembled and was blind with longing. When at last I did look
up, he said again, "Surely, thou wilt be advised?"
The earl leaned with his forehead set in his clasped hands, and
by-and-by he said,
"It is impossible. Would that I could!"
And the lad said,
"Nay, it is not impossible. Thou canst save thine own life with a word."
And Lord Denbeigh answered him:
"My life is not worth even a word," and he did not lift up his forehead
from his hands.
Then said my master, "Thy life may be worth less than naught to thee,
but to others its price is above their own." And again he was as pale as
any girl.