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"It is not silly at all. It is a very generous notion, Alinor." |
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She looked aside briefly so that he should not see the fear in her eyes. "How is it generous? They are paid to year's end already. I cannot get the money back. Sir Andre could not know King Henry would die and I would be taken into wardship. There they sit, eating my beef, mutton, and fish, fighting among themselves, and plaguing the serfs' women. If you take them, they will cost me less at least by eating the King's food, and they can plague the Welsh women. But Simon, why did you laugh?" |
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He began to laugh again. "Because you are so young, and so exquisitely beautiful, and you took me by the hand and led me into a most romantic garden, all sweet-scented and silveredand then you began to talk like a grizzle-haired war comrade of fifty years." |
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"Say rather a white-haired war lord of eighty years and you will be right," Alinor said, smiling. "It is my grandfather you hear talking." Suddenly she put her arms around him and buried her face in his breast. "But, oh, Simon, Simon, there is a young maid here also, and she is very aware of the moonlight and the flowers and of how very near she is to parting from her love. Have a care to yourself, Simon. Have a care to yourself." |
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