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porch； and the King's Son came forth and went straight to him； and
said： 〃Thou art to enter the house； and go into thy chamber
forthwith； and by no means to go forth of it betwixt sunset and
sunrise。 My Lady will not away with thy prowling round the house in
the night…tide。〃
Therewith he turned away； and went into the house again； and Walter
followed him soberly； remembering how the Maid had bidden him
forbear。 So he went to his chamber； and slept。
But amidst of the night he awoke and deemed that he heard a voice
not far off； so he crept out of his bed and peered around； lest；
perchance； the Maid had come to speak with him； but his chamber was
dusk and empty： then he went to the window and looked out； and saw
the moon shining bright and white upon the greensward。 And lo！ the
Lady walking with the King's Son； and he clad in thin and wanton
raiment； but she in nought else save what God had given her of long；
crispy yellow hair。 Then was Walter ashamed to look on her； seeing
that there was a man with her； and gat him back to his bed； but yet
a long while ere he slept again he had the image before his eyes of
the fair woman on the dewy moonlit grass。
The next day matters went much the same way； and the next also； save
that his sorrow was increased； and he sickened sorely of hope
deferred。 On the fourth day also the forenoon wore as erst； but in
the heat of the afternoon Walter sought to the hazel…copse； and laid
him down there hard by a little clearing thereof； and slept from
very weariness of grief。 There； after a while； he woke with words
still hanging in his ears； and he knew at once that it was they
twain talking together。
The King's Son had just done his say； and now it was the Lady
beginning in her honey…sweet voice； low but strong； wherein even was
a little of huskiness； she said： 〃Otto； belike it were well to have
a little patience； till we find out what the man is； and whence he
cometh； it will always be easy to rid us of him； it is but a word to
our Dwarf…king； and it will be done in a few minutes。〃
〃Patience！〃 said the King's Son； angrily； 〃I wot not how to have
patience with him； for I can see of him that he is rude and violent
and headstrong； and a low…born wily one。 Forsooth； he had patience
enough with me the other even； when I rated him in； like the dog
that he is； and he had no manhood to say one word to me。 Soothly；
as he followed after me； I had a mind to turn about and deal him a
buffet on the face； to see if I could but draw one angry word from
him。〃
The Lady laughed； and said： 〃Well； Otto； I know not； that which
thou deemest dastardy in him may be but prudence and wisdom； and he
an alien； far from his friends and nigh to his foes。 Perchance we
shall yet try him what he is。 Meanwhile； I rede thee try him not
with buffets； save he be weaponless and with bounden hands； or else
I deem that but a little while shalt thou be fain of thy blow。〃
Now when Walter heard her words and the voice wherein they were
said； he might not forbear being stirred by them； and to him； all
lonely there； they seemed friendly。
But he lay still； and the King's Son answered the Lady and said： 〃I
know not what is in thine heart concerning this runagate； that thou
shouldst bemock me with his valiancy； whereof thou knowest nought。
If thou deem me unworthy of thee； send me back safe to my father's
country； I may look to have worship there； yea； and the love of fair
women belike。〃
Therewith it seemed as if he had put forth his hand to the Lady to
caress her； for she said： 〃Nay； lay not thine hand on my shoulder；
for to…day and now it is not the hand of love； but of pride and
folly； and would…be mastery。 Nay； neither shalt thou rise up and
leave me until thy mood is softer and kinder to me。〃
Then was there silence betwixt them a while； and thereafter the
King's Son spake in a wheedling voice： 〃My goddess； I pray thee
pardon me！ But canst thou wonder that I fear thy wearying of me；
and am therefore peevish and jealous？ thou so far above the Queens
of the World； and I a poor youth that without thee were nothing！〃
She answered nought； and he went on again： 〃Was it not so； O
goddess； that this man of the sons of the merchants was little
heedful of thee； and thy loveliness and thy majesty？〃
She laughed and said： 〃Maybe he deemed not that he had much to gain
of us； seeing thee sitting by our side； and whereas we spake to him
coldly and sternly and disdainfully。 Withal； the poor youth was
dazzled and shamefaced before us； that we could see in the eyes and
the mien of him。〃
Now this she spoke so kindly and sweetly； that again was Walter all
stirred thereat； and it came into his mind that it might be she knew
he was anigh and hearing her； and that she spake as much for him as
for the King's Son： but that one answered： 〃Lady； didst thou not
see somewhat else in his eyes； to wit； that they had but of late
looked on some fair woman other than thee？ As for me； I deem it not
so unlike that on the way to thine hall he may have fallen in with
thy Maid。〃
He spoke in a faltering voice； as if shrinking from some storm that
might come。 And forsooth the Lady's voice was changed as she
answered； though there was no outward heat in it； rather it was
sharp and eager and cold at once。 She said： 〃Yea； that is not ill
thought of； but we may not always keep our thrall in mind。 If it be
so as thou deemest； we shall come to know it most like when we next
fall in with her； or if she hath been shy this time； then shall she
pay the heavier for it； for we will question her by the Fountain in
the Hall as to what betid by the Fountain of the Rock。〃
Spake the King's Son； faltering yet more： 〃Lady； were it not better
to question the man himself？ the Maid is stout…hearted； and will not
be speedily quelled into a true tale； whereas the man I deem of no
account。〃
〃No； no；〃 said the Lady sharply； 〃it shall not be。〃
Then was she silent a while； and then she said： 〃How if the man
should prove to be our master？〃
〃Nay； our Lady；〃 said the King's Son； 〃thou art jesting with me；
thou and thy might and thy wisdom； and all that thy wisdom may
command； to be over…mastered by a gangrel churl！〃
〃But how if I will not have it command； King's Son？〃 said the Lady。
〃I tell thee I know thine heart； but thou knowest not mine。 But be
at peace！ For since thou hast prayed for this womannay； not with
thy words； I wot； but with thy trembling hands； and thine anxious
eyes； and knitted browI say； since thou hast prayed for her so
earnestly； she shall escape this time。 But whether it will be to
her gain in the long run； I misdoubt me。 See thou to that； Otto！
thou who hast held me in thine arms so oft。 And now thou mayest
depart if thou wilt。〃
It seemed to Walter as if the King's Son were dumbfoundered at her
words： he answered nought； and presently he rose from the ground；
and went his ways slowly toward the house。 The Lady lay there a
little while； and then went her ways also； but turned away from the
house toward the wood at the other end thereof； whereby Walter had
first come thither。
As for Walter； he was confused in