Why should he not join with the honourable daughter of an honourable house, and the one woman he has ever loved ?" The girl let her velvet cap fall on the ground, and sank her face between her hands.

Her whole body was shaken with emotion.
"Go--go," she cried, starting to her feet and standing before him, "call out your lances and ride home this night.

Never look more upon the face of such a thing as Sybilla de Thouars.

I bid you! I warn you! I command you! I thought I had been of stone, but now when I see you, and hear your words, I cannot do that which is laid upon me to do." William of Douglas smiled.
"I cannot go," he said simply, "I love you.

Moreover, I will not go--I am Earl of Douglas." The girl clasped her hands helplessly.
"Not if I tell you that I have deceived you, led you on ?" she said.
"Not if I swear that I am the slave of a power so terrible that there are no words in any language to tell the least of the things I have suffered ?" The Earl shook his head.