NowIhavetoldthee，indeed，oftwothingswhereofwebothwot;butnextImustneedstelltheeofthingswhereofIwot，andthouwottestnot。Yetthiswerebetter，thatthoupledgethywordnottotouchsomuchasoneofmyhands，andthatwegotogetheralittlewayhenceawayfromthesetumbledstones，andsitdownupontheopengreensward;whereashereiscoveriftherebespyingabroad。\"
Again，asshespoke，sheturnedverypale;butWaltersaid：\"Sinceitmustbeso，IpledgetheemywordtotheeasIlovethee。\"
Andtherewithshekneltdown，anddidonherfoot—gear，andthenspranglightlyovertherivulet;andthenthetwainofthemwentsidebysidesomehalfafurlongthence，andsatdown，shadowedbytheboughsofaslimquicken—treegrowingupoutofthegreensward，whereonforagoodspacearoundwasneitherbushnorbrake。
Therebeganthemaidentotalksoberly，andsaid：\"ThisiswhatI
mustneedssaytotheenow，thatthouartcomeintoalandperilousforanyonethatlovethaughtofgood;fromwhich，forsooth，Iwerefainthatthouwertgottenawaysafely，eventhoughIshoulddieoflongingforthee。Asformyself，myperilis，inameasure，lessthanthine;Imeantheperilofdeath。Butlo，thou，thisirononmyfootistokenthatIamathrall，andthouknowestinwhatwisethrallsmustpayfortransgressions。Furthermore，ofwhatIam，andhowIcamehither，timewouldfailmetotell;butsomewhile，maybe，Ishalltellthee。Iserveanevilmistress，ofwhomImaysaythatscarceIwotifshebeawomanornot;butbysomecreaturesissheaccountedforagod，andasagodisheried;andsurelynevergodwascruellernorcolderthanshe。Meshehatethsorely;yetifshehatedmelittleornought，smallwerethegaintomeifitwereherpleasuretodealhardlybyme。Butasthingsnoware，andareliketobe，itwouldnotbeforherpleasure，butforherpainandloss，tomakeanendofme，therefore，asIsaide’ennow，mymerelifeisnotinperilwithher;unless，perchance，somesuddenpassiongetthebetterofher，andsheslayme，andrepentofitthereafter。