Gerard and his two sons she maintained yet as her men; and not only
were they of much use to her in fetching and carrying, but also true
it is that her beauty was so manifest, that she whiles needed a stout
lad weaponed at her back when she was in the streets or amidst the
throng of the market; and many were they, and whiles of the highest,
who craved love of her, some with honour, and some with lack of it.
Of these, forsooth, were but two that anywise troubled her; and the
most trouble was this, that she might not fail to see that the love
of her had entered into the hearts of the two Gerardsons, Robert and
Giles; so that times were when she deemed she must even send them
away, but when it came to the point she had not the heart thereto;
though none other remedy there seemed, so sorely as their souls were
wounded by longing for her. It is not to be said that they ever
spake to her thereof, or wittingly wearied her with signs of love;
but they could not so easily cover it up but that it was ever before
her eyes. But she suffered it all for friendship's sake and for
their true service, and in all friendliness did what she might to
solace their grief.
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