"I would not hide
when you are the seeker. So you know me--ha?
"I knew you at first," replied Mabel confusedly. "I saw you at the great
hunting party; and, once beheld, your majesty is not easily forgotten."
"Ha! by Saint George! you turn a compliment as soothly as the most
practised dame at court," cried Henry, catching her hand.
"Beseech your majesty, release me!" returned Mabel, struggling to get
free. "I did not follow you on the light errand you suppose, but to warn
you of danger. Before you quitted my grandsire's cottage I told you this
part of the forest was haunted by plunderers and evil beings, and
apprehensive lest some mischance might befall you, I opened the
window softly to look after you -"
"And you overheard me tell the Duke of Suffolk how much smitten I was
with your beauty, ha? " interrupted the king, squeezing her hand -" and
how resolved I was to make you mine--ha! sweetheart?"
"The words I heard were of very different import, my liege," rejoined
Mabel. "You were menaced by miscreants, who purposed to waylay
you before you could reach your steed."
"Let them come," replied Henry carelessly; "they shall pay for their
villainy.
Pages:
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217