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〃Why； what hath befallen of late？〃
〃O friend；〃 she began； 〃this hath befallen。〃
But as he looked on her； the smile died from her face； and she
became deadly pale to the very lips； she looked askance to her left
side； whereas ran the stream； and Walter followed her eyes； and
deemed for one instant that he saw the misshapen yellow visage of
the dwarf peering round from a grey rock； but the next there was
nothing。 Then the Maid； though she were as pale as death； went on
in a clear； steady； hard voice； wherein was no joy or kindness；
keeping her face to Walter and her back to the stream： 〃This hath
befallen； friend； that there is no longer any need to refrain thy
love nor mine； therefore I say to thee； come to my chamber （and it
is the red chamber over against thine； though thou knewest it not）
an hour before this next midnight； and then thy sorrow and mine
shall be at an end： and now I must needs depart。 Follow me not；
but remember！〃
And therewith she turned about and fled like the wind down the
stream。
But Walter stood wondering； and knew not what to make of it； whether
it were for good or ill： for he knew now that she had paled and
been seized with terror because of the upheaving of the ugly head；
and yet she had seemed to speak out the very thing she had to say。
Howsoever it were； he spake aloud to himself： Whatever comes； I
will keep tryst with her。
Then he drew his sword； and turned this way and that； looking all
about if he might see any sign of the Evil Thing； but nought might
his eyes behold； save the grass； and the stream； and the bushes of
the dale。 So then； still holding his naked sword in his hand； he
clomb the bent out of the dale； for that was the only way he knew to
the Golden House； and when he came to the top； and the summer breeze
blew in his face； and he looked down a fair green slope beset with
goodly oaks and chestnuts； he was refreshed with the life of the
earth； and he felt the good sword in his fist； and knew that there
was might and longing in him； and the world seemed open unto him。
So he smiled； if it were somewhat grimly； and sheathed his sword and
went on toward the house。
CHAPTER XIX： WALTER GOES TO FETCH HOME THE LION'S HIDE
He entered the cool dusk through the porch； and； looking down the
pillared hall； saw beyond the fountain a gleam of gold； and when he
came past the said fountain he looked up to the high…seat； and lo！
the Lady sitting there clad in her queenly raiment。 She called to
him； and he came； and she hailed him； and spake graciously and
calmly； yet as if she knew nought of him save as the leal servant of
her； a high Lady。 〃Squire；〃 she said； 〃we have deemed it meet to
have the hide of the servant of the Enemy； the lion to wit； whom
thou slewest yesterday； for a carpet to our feet； wherefore go now；
take thy wood…knife； and flay the beast； and bring me home his skin。
This shall be all thy service for this day； so mayst thou do it at
thine own leisure； and not weary thyself。 May good go with thee。〃
He bent the knee before her； and she smiled on him graciously； but
reached out no hand for him to kiss； and heeded him but little。
Wherefore； in spite of himself； and though he knew somewhat of her
guile； he could not help marvelling that this should be she who had
lain in his arms night…long but of late。
Howso that might be； he took his way toward the thicket where he had
slain the lion； and came thither by then it was afternoon； at the
hottest of the day。 So he entered therein； and came to the very
place whereas the Lady had lain； when she fell down before the
terror of the lion； and there was the mark of her body on the grass
where she had lain that while； like as it were the form of a hare。
But when Walter went on to where he had slain that great beast； lo！
he was gone； and there was no sign of him； but there were Walter's
own footprints； and the two shafts which he had shot； one feathered
red； and one blue。 He said at first： Belike someone hath been
here； and hath had the carcase away。 Then he laughed in very
despite； and said： How may that be； since there are no signs of
dragging away of so huge a body； and no blood or fur on the grass if
they had cut him up； and moreover no trampling of feet； as if there
had been many men at the deed。 Then was he all abashed； and again
laughed in scorn of himself； and said： Forsooth I deemed I had done
manly； but now forsooth I shot nought； and nought there was before
the sword of my father's son。 And what may I deem now； but that
this is a land of mere lies； and that there is nought real and alive
therein save me。 Yea； belike even these trees and the green grass
will presently depart from me； and leave me falling down through the
clouds。
Therewith he turned away； and gat him to the road that led to the
Golden House； wondering what next should befall him； and going
slowly as he pondered his case。 So came he to that first thicket
where they had lost their quarry by water； so he entered the same；
musing； and bathed him in the pool that was therein； after he had
wandered about it awhile； and found nothing new。
So again he set him to the homeward road； when the day was now
waning； and it was near sunset that he was come nigh unto the house；
though it was hidden from him as then by a low bent that rose before
him； and there he abode and looked about him。
Now as he looked； over the said bent came the figure of a woman； who
stayed on the brow thereof and looked all about her； and then ran
swiftly down to meet Walter； who saw at once that it was the Maid。
She made no stay then till she was but three paces from him； and
then she stooped down and made the sign to him； and then spake to
him breathlessly； and said： 〃Hearken！ but speak not till I have
done： I bade thee to…night's meeting because I saw that there was
one anigh whom I must needs beguile。 But by thine oath； and thy
love； and all that thou art； I adjure thee come not unto me this
night as I bade thee！ but be hidden in the hazel…copse outside the
house； as it draws toward midnight； and abide me there。 Dost thou
hearken； and wilt thou？ Say yes or no in haste； for I may not tarry
a moment of time。 Who knoweth what is behind me？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Walter hastily； 〃but friend and love〃
〃No more；〃 she said； 〃hope the best；〃 and turning from him she ran
away swiftly； not by the way she had come； but sideways； as though
to reach the house by fetching a compass。
But Walter went slowly on his way； thinking within himself that now
at that present moment there was nought for it but to refrain him
from doing； and to let others do； yet deemed he that it was little
manly to be as the pawn upon the board； pushed about by the will of
others。
Then； as he went； he bethought him of the Maiden's face and aspect；
as she came running to him； and stood before him for that minute；
and all eagerness he saw in her； and sore love of him； and distress
of soul； all blent together。
So came he to the brow of the bent whence he could see lying before
him； scarce more than a bow…shot away； the Golden House now gilded
again and reddened by the setting sun。 And even