Wouldst wed her
now--fond, feeble-hearted mortal?"
Lord William was silent; but the beautiful form of the maiden seemed to
pass before him, and he loved her with such overmastering vehemence that
if Satan himself had stood in the gap he would not have shrunk from his
purpose.
"Mause Helston," said the lover, "if thou wilt help me at this bout, I
will not draw back. I dare wed her though she were twice the thing thou
fearest. Tell me how her spell works,--I will countervail it,--- I will
break that accursed charm, and she shall be my bride!"
For a while there was no reply; but he heard a muttering as though some
consultation were going on.
"Listen, Lord William," she spoke aloud. "Ay, thou wilt listen to thine
own jeopardy! Once in the year--'tis on the night of All-Hallows--she
may be overcome. But it is a perilous attempt!"
"I care not. Point out the way, and I will ride it rough-shod!"
The beldame arose from her couch, and struck a light. Ere they separated
the morning dawned high above the grey hills. Many rites and
incantations were performed, of which we forbear the disgusting recital.
The instructions he received were never divulged; the secrets of that
night were never known; but an altered man was Lord William when he came
back to Hapton Tower.
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