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Now the Lady spake not to Walter any more than erst； but at last the
man said： 〃Why doest thou not kneel as thou didst erewhile？〃
Walter was on the point of giving him back a fierce answer； but the
Lady spake and said： 〃Nay； friend； it matters not whether he kneel
or stand； but he may say； if he will； what he would have of me； and
wherefore he is come hither。〃
Then spake Walter； for as wroth and ashamed as he was： 〃Lady； I
have strayed into this land； and have come to thine house as I
suppose； and if I be not welcome； I may well depart straightway； and
seek a way out of thy land； if thou wouldst drive me thence； as well
as out of thine house。〃
Thereat the Lady turned and looked on him； and when her eyes met
his； he felt a pang of fear and desire mingled shoot through his
heart。 This time she spoke to him； but coldly； without either wrath
or any thought of him： 〃Newcomer；〃 she said； 〃I have not bidden
thee hither； but here mayst thou abide a while if thou wilt；
nevertheless； take heed that here is no King's Court。 There is；
forsooth； a folk that serveth me （or； it may be； more than one）； of
whom thou wert best to know nought。 Of others I have but two
servants； whom thou wilt see； and the one is a strange creature； who
should scare thee or scathe thee with a good will； but of a good
will shall serve nought save me； the other is a woman； a thrall； of
little avail； save that； being compelled； she will work woman's
service for me； but whom none else shall compel 。 。 。 Yea； but what
is all this to thee； or to me that I should tell it to thee？ I will
not drive thee away； but if thine entertainment please thee not；
make no plaint thereof to me； but depart at thy will。 Now is this
talk betwixt us overlong； since； as thou seest； I and this King's
Son are in converse together。 Art thou a King's Son？〃
〃Nay； Lady；〃 said Walter； 〃I am but of the sons of the merchants。〃
〃It matters not；〃 she said； 〃go thy ways into one of the chambers。〃
And straightway she fell a…talking to the man who sat beside her
concerning the singing of the birds beneath her window in the
morning； and of how she had bathed her that day in a pool of the
woodlands； when she had been heated with hunting； and so forth； and
all as if there had been none there save her and the King's Son。
But Walter departed all ashamed； as though he had been a poor man
thrust away from a rich kinsman's door； and he said to himself that
this woman was hateful； and nought love…worthy； and that she was
little like to tempt him； despite all the fairness of her body。
No one else he saw in the house that even； he found meat and drink
duly served on a fair table； and thereafter he came on a goodly bed；
and all things needful； but no child of Adam to do him service； or
bid him welcome or warning。 Nevertheless he ate； and drank； and
slept； and put off thought of all these things till the morrow； all
the more as he hoped to see the kind maiden some time betwixt
sunrise and sunset on that new day。
CHAPTER XII： THE WEARING OF FOUR DAYS IN THE WOOD BEYOND THE WORLD
He arose betimes； but found no one to greet him； neither was there
any sound of folk moving within the fair house； so he but broke his
fast； and then went forth and wandered amongst the trees； till he
found him a stream to bathe in； and after he had washed the night
off him he lay down under a tree thereby for a while； but soon
turned back toward the house； lest perchance the Maid should come
thither and he should miss her。
It should be said that half a bow…shot from the house on that side
（i。e。 due north thereof） was a little hazel…brake； and round about
it the trees were smaller of kind than the oaks and chestnuts he had
passed through before； being mostly of birch and quicken…beam and
young ash； with small wood betwixt them； so now he passed through
the thicket； and； coming to the edge thereof； beheld the Lady and
the King's Son walking together hand in hand； full lovingly by
seeming。
He deemed it unmeet to draw back and hide him； so he went forth past
them toward the house。 The King's Son scowled on him as he passed；
but the Lady； over whose beauteous face flickered the joyous morning
smiles； took no more heed of him than if he had been one of the
trees of the wood。 But she had been so high and disdainful with him
the evening before； that he thought little of that。 The twain went
on； skirting the hazel…copse； and he could not choose but turn his
eyes on them； so sorely did the Lady's beauty draw them。 Then
befell another thing； for behind them the boughs of the hazels
parted； and there stood that little evil thing； he or another of his
kind； for he was quite unclad； save by his fell of yellowy…brown
hair； and that he was girt with a leathern girdle； wherein was stuck
an ugly two…edged knife： he stood upright a moment； and cast his
eyes at Walter and grinned； but not as if he knew him； and scarce
could Walter say whether it were the one he had seen； or another：
then he cast himself down on his belly； and fell to creeping through
the long grass like a serpent； following the footsteps of the Lady
and her lover； and now； as he crept； Walter deemed； in his loathing；
that the creature was liker to a ferret than aught else。 He crept
on marvellous swiftly； and was soon clean out of sight。 But Walter
stood staring after him for a while； and then lay down by the copse…
side； that he might watch the house and the entry thereof； for he
thought； now perchance presently will the kind maiden come hither to
comfort me with a word or two。 But hour passed by hour； and still
she came not； and still he lay there； and thought of the Maid； and
longed for her kindness and wisdom； till he could not refrain his
tears； and wept for the lack of her。 Then he arose； and went and
sat in the porch； and was very downcast of mood。
But as he sat there； back comes the Lady again； the King's Son
leading her by the hand； they entered the porch； and she passed by
him so close that the odour of her raiment filled all the air about
him； and the sleekness of her side nigh touched him； so that he
could not fail to note that her garments were somewhat disarrayed；
and that she kept her right hand （for her left the King's Son held）
to her bosom to hold the cloth together there； whereas the rich
raiment had been torn off from her right shoulder。 As they passed
by him； the King's Son once more scowled on him； wordless； but even
more fiercely than before； and again the Lady heeded him nought。
After they had gone on a while； he entered the hall； and found it
empty from end to end； and no sound in it save the tinkling of the
fountain； but there was victual set on the board。 He ate and drank
thereof to keep life lusty within him； and then went out again to
the wood…side to watch and to long； and the time hung heavy on his
hands because of the lack of the fair Maiden。
He was of mind not to go into the house to his rest that night； but
to sleep under the boughs of the forest。 But a little after sunset
he saw a bright…clad image moving amidst the carven images of the
porch； and the King's Son came forth and went straight to