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beisance； as due was； to his master's daughter； and then spake awhile privily with Dame Elinor； and thereafter they went into the hall； he； and she； and Goldilind； and there before all men he spake aloud and said：
〃My Lady Goldilind； meseemeth ye dwell here all too straitly； for neither is this house of Leashowe great enough for thy state； and the entertainment of the knights and lords who shall have will to seek to thee hither； nor is the wealth of thy liege dame and governante as great as it should be； and as thou； meseemeth； wouldst have it。 Wherefore I have been considering thy desires herein； and if thou deem it meet to give a gift to Dame Elinor； and live queenlier thyself than now thou dost； then mayst thou give unto her the Castle of Greenharbour； and the six manors appertaining thereto； and withal the rights of wild…wood and fen and fell that lie thereabout。 Also； if thou wilt； thou mayst honour the said castle with abiding there awhile at thy pleasure； and I shall see to it that thou have due meney to go with thee thither。 How sayest thou； my lady？〃
Amongst that company there were two or three who looked at each other and half smiled； and two or three looked on the maiden； who was goodly as of her years； as if with compassion； but the more part kept countenance in full courtly wise。
Then spake Goldilind in a quavering voice （for she was afraid and wise）； and she said： 〃Cousin and Earl； we will that all this be done； and it likes me well to eke the wealth of this lady and my good friend Dame Elinor。〃
Quoth Earl Geoffrey： 〃Kneel before thy lady； Dame； and put thine hands between hers and thank her for the gift。〃 So Dame Elinor knelt down； and did homage and obeisance for her new land； and Goldilind raised her up and kissed her； and bade her sit down beside her； and spake to her kindly； and all men praised the maiden for her gentle and courteous ways； and Dame Elinor smiled upon her and them； what she could。
She was small of body and sleek； but her cheeks somewhat flagging； brown eyes she had； long； half opened； thin lips； and chin somewhat falling away from her mouth； hard on fifty winters had she seen； yet there have been those who were older and goodlier both。
CHAPTER V。
GOLDILIND COMES TO GREENHARBOUR。
But a little while tarried the Earl Geoffrey at Leashowe； but departed next morning and came to Meadhamstead。 A month thereafter came folk from him to Leashowe； to wit； the new meney for the new abode of Goldilind； amongst whom was a goodly band of men…at…arms； led by an old lord pinched and peevish of face； who kneeled to Goldilind as the new burgreve of Greenharbour； and a chaplain； a black canon； young； broad…cheeked and fresh…looking； but hard…faced and unlovely； three new damsels withal were come for the young Queen； not young maids； but stalworth women； well…grown； and two of them hard…featured； the third； tall； black…haired； and a goodly…fashioned body。
Now when these were come； who were all under the rule of Dame Elinor； there was no gainsaying the departure to the new home； and in two days' time they went their ways from Leashowe。 But though Goldilind was young； she was wise； and her heart misgave her； when she was amidst this new meney； that she was not riding toward glory and honour； and a world of worship and friends beloved。 Howbeit； whatso might lie before her； she put a good face upon it； and did to those about her queenly and with all courtesy。
Five days they rode from Leashowe north away； by thorpe and town and mead and river； till the land became little peopled； and the sixth day they rode the wild…wood ways； where was no folk； save now and again the little cot of some forester or collier； but the seventh day； about noon； they came into a clearing of the wood； a rugged little plain of lea…land； mingled with marish； with a little deal of acre…land in barley and rye； round about a score of poor frame…houses set down scattermeal about the lea。 But on a long ridge； at the northern end of the said plain； was a grey castle； strong； and with big and high towers； yet not so much greater than was Leashowe； deemed Goldilind； as for a dwelling…house。
Howbeit； they entered the said castle； and within； as without； it was somewhat grim； though nought was lacking of plenishing due for folk knightly。 Long it were to tell of its walls and baileys and chambers； but let this suffice； that on the north side； toward the thick forest； was a garden of green…sward and flowers and potherbs； and a garth…wall of grey stone； not very high； was the only defence thereof toward the wood； but it was overlooked by a tall tower of the great wall； which hight the Foresters' Tower。 In the said outer garth…wall also was a postern； whereby there was not seldom coming in and going out。
Now when Goldilind had been in her chamber for a few days； she found out for certain； what she had before misdoubted； that she had been brought from Leashowe and the peopled parts near to Meadhamstead unto the uttermost parts of the realm to be kept in prison there。
Howbeit； it was in a way prison courteous； she was still served with observance； and bowed before； and called my lady and queen； and so forth： also she might go from chamber to hall and chapel； to and fro； yet scarce alone； and into the garden she might go； yet not for the more part unaccompanied； and even at whiles she went out a…gates； but then ever with folk on the right hand and the left。 Forsooth； whiles and again； within the next two years of her abode at Greenharbour； out of gates she went and alone； but that was as the prisoner who strives to be free （although she had； forsooth； no thought or hope of escape）； and as the prisoner brought back was she chastised when she came within gates again。
Everywhere； to be short； within and about the Castle of Greenharbour； did Goldilind meet the will and the tyranny of the little sleek widow； Dame Elinor； to whom both carle and quean in that corner of the world were but as servants and slaves to do her will； and the said Elinor； who at first was but spiteful in word and look toward her lady； waxed worse as time wore and as the blossom of the King's daughter's womanhood began to unfold； till at last the she…jailer had scarce feasted any day when she had not in some wise grieved and tormented her prisoner； and whatever she did； none had might to say her nay。
But Goldilind took all with a high heart； and her courage grew with her years； nor would she bow the head before any grief； but took to her whatsoever solace might come to her； as the pleasure of the sun and the wind； and the beholding of the greenery of the wood； and the fowl and the beasts playing； which oft she saw afar； and whiles anear； though whiles； forsooth； she saw nought of it all； whereas she was shut up betwixt four walls； and that not of her chamber； but of some bare and foul prison of the Castle； which； with other griefs； must she needs thole under the name and guise of penance。
However； she waxed so exceeding fair and sweet and lovely； that the loveliness of her pierced to the hearts of many of her jailers； so that some of them； and specially of the squires and men…at…arms； would do her some easement which they might do un