The Roots of the Mountains, page 159 by William Morris
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e spake to him before all men, and bade him come forth with her into the garden, because she would speak to him apart. He yeasaid her, though with a heavy heart; and to the folk about that seemed meet and due, since those twain were deemed to be troth-plight, and they smiled kindly on them as they went out of the Hall together.
So they came into the garden, where the pear-trees were blossoming over the spring lilies, and the cherries were showering their flowers on the deep green grass, and everything smelled sweetly on the warm windless spring morning.
She led the way, going before him till they came by a smooth grass path between the berry bushes, to a square space of grass about which were barberry trees, their first tender leaves bright green in the sun against the dry yellowish twigs. There was a sundial amidmost of the grass, and betwixt the garden-boughs one could see the long grey roof of the ancient hall; and sweet familiar sounds of the nesting birds and men and women going on their errands were all about in the scented air. She turned about at the sundial and faced Face-of-god, her hand lightly laid on the scored brass, and spake with no anger in her voice:
'I ask thee if thou hast brought me the token whereon thou shalt swear to give me that gift.'
'Yea,' said he; and therewith drew the ring from his bosom, and held it out to her. She reached out her hand to him slowly and took it, and their fingers met as she did so, and he noted that her hand was warm and firm and wholesome as he well remembered it.
She said: 'Whence hadst thou this fair finger-ring?'
Said Face-of-god: 'My friend there in the mountain-valley drew it from off her finger for thee, and bade me bear thee a message.'
Her face flushed red: 'Yea,' she said, 'and doth she send me a message? Then doth she know of me, and ye have talked of me together. Well, give the message!'
Said Face-of-god: 'She saith, that thou shalt bear in mind, That to- morrow is a new day.'