I was never one to value a man by his outward seeming, but
suddenly I saw myself as in a mirror, - a soldier, scarred and
bronzed, acquainted with the camp, but not with the court,
roughened by a rude life, poor in this world's goods, the first flush
of youth gone forever. For a moment my heart was bitter within
me. The pang passed, and my hand tightened its grasp upon the
chair in which sat the woman I had wed. She was my wife, and I
would keep my own.
My lord had paused to speak to the Governor, who had risen to
greet him. Now he came toward us, and the crowd pressed and
whispered. He bowed low to Mistress Percy, made as if to pass on,
then came to a stop before her, his hat in his hand, his handsome
head bent, a smile upon his bearded lips.
"When was it that we last sat to see men bowl, lady?" he said. "I
remember a gay match when I bowled against my Lord of
Buckingham, and fair ladies sat and smiled upon us. The fairest
laughed, and tied her colors around my arm."
The lady whom he addressed sat quietly, with hands folded in her
silken lap and an untroubled face. "I did not know you then, my
lord," she answered him, quite softly and sweetly. "Had I done so,
be sure I would have cut my hand off ere it gave color of mine to"
-
"To whom?" he demanded, as she paused.
"To a coward, my lord," she said clearly.
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