Which would you do were you in my place?"
"Once given, I should keep my oath," she replied promptly, "unless those
who accepted it would release me."
Roland shook his head.
"They will not release me," he said dolefully.
Again they rode together in silence, content to be near each other,
despite the young man's alternations of elation and despair. 'Twas, all
in all, a long summer's day of sweet unhappiness for each.
One of Roland's reasons for choosing the right bank of the Rhine was to
avoid the important city of Coblentz, with its inevitable questioning,
and it was late afternoon when they saw this town on the farther shore,
passing it without hindrance.
"You will rest this night," she said, "in my Castle of Sayn, and then,
as time is pressing, to-morrow you must return. We have met no
interference even by this dangerous route, and I shall make my way alone
without fear to Nonnenwerth, for I know you are anxious to be in
Frankfort once more."
"I swear to you, Hilda, that if, without breaking my oath, I should
never see Frankfort again, I would be the most joyous of men.
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