Moreover he never again
craved love of her in so many words, but only in his goings and
comings so did, that it was clear how he had her, and the love of
her, ever in his heart.
Wore thus a five years; and then came a sickness on the city, and
many died thereof; and the said sickness entered into Birdalone's
house, and slew Audrey her mother, but spared all else therein.
Thereby at the first was Birdalone so overwhelmed that she might heed
nought, neither her craft nor her friends, nor the days to come on
the earth for her. And moreover when she came more to herself, which
was not for many days, and asked why her friend Jacobus had not been
to see her the last days, she was told that he also was dead of the
pestilence; and she sorrowed for him sorely, for she loved him much,
though not in the way he would.
And now did the city and land of the Five Crafts begin to look
unfriendly to Birdalone, and she fell to thinking that she must needs
depart thence, as she well might do, whereas she had foison of goods:
and at first it was in her mind to go with Gerard and his sons unto
Utterhay; but then she deemed the thought of her mother, and how she
would be ever thinking of the loss and the gain, and the loss once
more stood in the way; and she turned one thing and another over in
her mind, and might not face it.
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