And she whispered more low and said, "I will go with thee to the new
continent to-morrow, and there we can live the rest o' our days in peace
and love." And she broke out all at once wilder than ever: "Ernle!
Ernle! take me! I will go with thee! I will leave father, and mother,
and home, and country, and friends, and King for thee! Only go not to
war! go not to war!"
He said but two words back of his teeth, "I must!" and then again, "_I
must!_"
But when he looked at her for answer, lo! she had swooned away.
He was to set forth in two days after the morrow; and on the morning of
that day, behold! we could not believe our own eyes for astonishment
when we saw the Lady Patience step quietly forth, composed and gentle,
though very pale. She saith good-morrow to every one, and after a while
she doth slip her arm through her husband's arm, and saith she, "Come
for a walk, Ernle; I have much to say to thee." So they started forth
together. Now I, fearful of many things, did follow at a little
distance. As they walked she besought him again that he would take her
and set sail for the new continent. And when again he told her how that
it could not be, she fell down upon her knees before him, and clasped
him with her arms, and she said, "If thou dost not love me, let me be
the first to die by thy sword. Slay me, as I kneel, for the love I bear
thee."