ging； and blessings on the river that seemed all silver with the backs of magic trout。 As I thought of all I owed that noble fish； I kneeled by the river's bearded lip； among the nettles and the meadowsweet； and swore by the inconstant moon that trout and I were henceforth kinsmen； and that between our houses should be an eternal amity。 The chub and the dace and the carp； not to speak of that Chinese pirate the pike； might still look to it； when I came forth armed with rod and line； but for me and my house the trout is henceforth sacred。 By the memory of the Blessed Saint Izaak； I swore it！
My arrival at Beaucaire was one of great excitement。 Nicolete and the Obstacle were both awaiting me； for the mysteries of masculine attire were not to be explored alone。 The parcel was snatched quite unceremoniously from my hands； the door shut upon me； and I laughingly bidden go listen to the nightingale。 I was not long in finding one； nor； being an industrious phrase…maker； did I waste my time； for； before I was summoned to behold Nicolete in all her boyhood； I had found occasion and moonlight to remark to my pocket…book that； Though all the world has heard the song of the Nightingale to the Rose； only the Nightingale has heard the answer of the Rose。 This I hurriedly hid in my heart for future conversation； as the pre…arranged tinkle of the silver bell called me to the rose。
Would； indeed； that I were a nightingale to sing aright the beauty of that rose with which； think of it； I was to spend a whole fortnight；yes； no less than fourteen wonderful days。
The two girls were evidently proud of themselves at having succeeded so well with the mysterious garments。 There were one or two points on which they needed my guidance； but they were unimportant； and when at last Nicolete would consent to stand up straight and let me have a good look at her；for； poor child！ she was as shy and shrinking as though she had nothing on；she made a very pretty young man indeed。
She didn't； I'm afraid； look like a young man of our degenerate day。 She was far too beautiful and distinguished for that。 Besides； her dark curling hair； quite short for a woman； was too long； and her eyes like the eyes of all poetswere women's eyes。 She looked； indeed； like one of those wonderful boys of the Italian Renaissance； whom you may still see at the National Gallery； whose beauty is no denial； but rather the stamp of their slender； supple strength； young painters and sculptors who held the palette for Leonardo； or wielded the chisel for Michelangelo； and anon threw both aside to take up sword for Guelf or Ghibelline in the narrow streets of Florence。
Her knapsack was already packed； and its contents included a serge skirt 〃in case of emergencies。〃 Already； she naughtily reminded me； we possessed a petticoat between us。
The brief remainder of the evening passed in excited chatter and cigarettes； and in my instructing Nicolete in certain tricks of masculine deportment。 The chief difficulty I hardly like mentioning； and if the Obstacle had not been present； I certainly dare not have spoken of it to Nicolete。 I mean that she was so shy about her pretty legs。 She couldn't cross them with any successful nonchalance。
〃You must take your legs more for granted； dear Nicolete；〃 I summoned courage to say。 〃The nonchalance of the legs is the first lesson to be learnt in such a masquerade as this。 You must regard them as so much bone and iron； rude skeleton joints and shins； as though they were the bones of the great elk or other extinct South Kensington specimen；〃〃not；〃 I added in my heart； 〃as the velvet and ivory which they are。〃
We had agreed to start with the sun on the morrow； so as to get clear of possible Peeping Toms； and when good…nights had been said； and I was once more swinging towards my inn； it seemed but an hour or two； as indeed it was； before I heard four o'clock drowsily announced through my bedroom door； and before I was once more striding along that river…bank all dew… silvered with last night's moonlight； the sun rubbing his great eye on the horizon； the whole world yawning through dainty bed…clothes of mist； and here and there a copse…full of birds congratulating themselves on their early rising。
Nicolete was not quite ready； so I had to go listen to the lark； about whom； alas！ I could find nothing to say to my pocket…book； before Nicolete； armed cap…a…pie with stick and knapsack； appeared at the door of her chalet。
The Obstacle was there to see us start。 She and Nicolete exchanged many kisses which were hard to bear； and the first quarter of an hour of our journey was much obstructed by the farewells of her far…fluttering handkerchief。 When at last we were really alone； I turned and looked at Nicolete striding manfully at my side； just to make sure that it was really true。
〃Well； we're in for it now；〃 I said； 〃aren't you frightened？〃
〃Oh； it's wonderful；〃 she replied； 〃don't spoil it by talking。〃
And I didn't； for who could hope to compete with the sun； who was making the whole dewy world shake with laughter at his brilliancy； or with the birds； any one of whom was a poet at least equal to Herrick？
Presently we found ourselves at four crossroads； with a four…fingered post in the centre。 We had agreed to leave our destination to chance。 We read the sign…post。
〃Which shall we choose？〃 I said；
〃Aucassin； true love and fair； To what land do we repair？〃
〃Don't you think this one；〃 she replied。 〃this one？To the Moon！〃
〃Certainly； we couldn't find a prettier place； but it's a long way；〃 I replied； looking up at the sky； all roses and pearls；〃a long way from the Morning Star to the Moon。〃
〃All the longer to be free；〃 cried Nicolete； recklessly。
〃So be it；〃 I assented。 〃Allonsto the Moon！〃
CHAPTER VIII
THE KIND OF THING THAT HAPPENS IN THE MOON
Two friends of my youth； with whom it would be hopeless to attempt competition； have described the star…strewn journey to the moon。 It is not for me to essay again where the ingenious M。 Jules Verne and Mr。 William Morris have preceded me。 Besides； the journey is nowadays much more usual； and therefore much less adventurous； than when those revered writers first described it。 In the middle ages a journey to the moon with a woman you loved was a very perilous matter indeed。 Even in the last century the roads were much beset with danger； but in our own day； like most journeys； it is accomplished with ease and safety in a few hours。
However； to the latter…day hero； whose appetite for dragons is not keen； this absence of adventure is perhaps rather pleasurable than otherwise； and I confess that I enjoyed the days I spent on foot with Nicolete none the less because they passed in tranquil uneventfulness；that is； without events of the violent kind。 Of course； all depends on what you call an event。 We were not waylaid by robbers； we fed and slept unchallenged at inns； we escaped collision with the police； and we encountered no bodily dangers of any kind； yet should I not call the journey uneventful； nor indeed； I think； would Nicolete。
To me it was one prolonged divine event； and； with such daily intercourse with Nicolete； I never dreamed of craving for any other excitement。 To walk from morning to evening by her side； to minister to her moods； to provide such entertainment as I might for her brain； and watch like a father over her physical needs； to note when she was weary and too proud to show it； and to pretend to be done up myself； to choose for her the easiest path； and keep my eyes open for wayside flowers and every country surprise；these； and a hundred other atten… tions； kept my heart and mind in busy service。
To picnic by some lonely stream…side on a few sandwiches； a flask of claret； and a pennyworth of apples； to talk about the books we loved； to exchange our hopes and dreams；we asked nothing better than this simple fare。
And so a week went by。 But； though so little had seemed to happen； and though our walking record was shamefully modest； yet； imperceptible as the transition had been； we were； quite insensibly indeed； and unacknowledged； in a very different relation to each other than when we had started out from the Morning Star。 In fact； to make no more words about it； I was head over heels in love with Nicolete； and I think； without conceit； I may say that Nicolete was rapidly growing rather fond of me。 Apart from anything else； we were such excellent chums。 We got along together as if indeed we had been two brothers； equable in our tempers and one in our desires。
At last the feeling on my side became so importunate that I could no longer keep silence。
We were seated together taking tea at a small lonely inn； whose windows looked out over a romantic little lake； backed by Salvator Rosa pine…woods。 The sun was beginning to grow dreamy； and the whole world to wear a dangerously sentimental expression。
I forget exactly what it was； but something in our talk had set us glowing； had touched tender chords of unexpected sympathy； and involuntarily I stretched out my hand across the corner of the table and pressed Nicolete's hand as it rested on the cloth。 She did not withdraw it； and our eyes met with a steady gaze of love。
〃Nicolete；〃 I said presently； when I could speak； 〃it is time for you to be going back home。〃
〃Why？〃 she asked breathlessly。
〃Because；〃 I answered； 〃I must love you if you stay。〃
〃Would you then bid me go？〃 she said。
〃Nicolete；〃 I said； 〃don't tempt me。 Be a good girl and go home。〃
〃But supposing I don't want to go home；〃 she said； 〃supposingoh； supposing I love you too？ Would you still bid me go？〃
〃Yes；〃 I said。 〃In that case it would be even more imperative。〃
〃Aucassin！〃
〃It is true； it is true； dear Nicolete。〃
〃Then； Aucassin；〃 she replied； almost sternly； in her great girlish love； 〃this is true also；I love you。 I have never loved； shall never love； any man but you！〃
〃Nicolete！〃
〃Aucassin！〃
There were no more words spoken between us for a full hour that afternoon。
CHAPTER IX
WRITTEN BY MOONLIGHT
I knew deep down in my heart that it couldn't last； yet how deny myself these roses； while the opportunity of gathering them was mine！the mor