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candles； and the fountain glittered in the light of them； as it ran
tinkling sweetly into the little stream； and the silvern bridges
gleamed； and the pillars shone all round about。
And there on the dais was a table dight most royally； and the Lady
sitting thereat； clad in her most glorious array； and behind her the
Maid standing humbly； yet clad in precious web of shimmering gold；
but with feet unshod； and the iron ring upon her ankle。
So Walter came his ways to the high…seat； and the Lady rose and
greeted him； and took him by the hands； and kissed him on either
cheek； and sat him down beside her。 So they fell to their meat； and
the Maid served them； but the Lady took no more heed of her than if
she were one of the pillars of the hall； but Walter she caressed oft
with sweet words； and the touch of her hand； making him drink out of
her cup and eat out of her dish。 As to him； he was bashful by
seeming； but verily fearful； he took the Lady's caresses with what
grace he might； and durst not so much as glance at her Maid。 Long
indeed seemed that banquet to him； and longer yet endured the
weariness of his abiding there； kind to his foe and unkind to his
friend； for after the banquet they still sat a while； and the Lady
talked much to Walter about many things of the ways of the world；
and he answered what he might； distraught as he was with the thought
of those two trysts which he had to deal with。
At last spake the Lady and said： 〃Now must I leave thee for a
little； and thou wottest where and how we shall meet next； and
meanwhile disport thee as thou wilt； so that thou weary not thyself；
for I love to see thee joyous。〃
Then she arose stately and grand； but she kissed Walter on the mouth
ere she turned to go out of the hall。 The Maid followed her； but or
ever she was quite gone； she stooped and made that sign； and looked
over her shoulder at Walter； as if in entreaty to him； and there was
fear and anguish in her face； but he nodded his head to her in yea…
say of the tryst in the hazel…copse； and in a trice she was gone。
Walter went down the hall； and forth into the early night； but in
the jaws of the porch he came up against the King's Son； who； gazing
at his attire glittering with all its gems in the moonlight； laughed
out； and said： 〃Now may it be seen how thou art risen in degree
above me； whereas I am but a king's son； and that a king of a far
country； whereas thou art a king of kings； or shalt be this night；
yea； and of this very country wherein we both are。〃
Now Walter saw the mock which lay under his words； but he kept back
his wrath； and answered： 〃Fair sir； art thou as well contented with
thy lot as when the sun went down？ Hast thou no doubt or fear？
Will the Maid verily keep tryst with thee； or hath she given thee
yea…say but to escape thee this time？ Or； again； may she not turn
to the Lady and appeal to her against thee？〃
Now when he had spoken these words； he repented thereof； and feared
for himself and the Maid； lest he had stirred some misgiving in that
young man's foolish heart。 But the King's Son did but laugh； and
answered nought but to Walter's last words； and said： 〃Yea； yea！
this word of thine showeth how little thou wottest of that which
lieth betwixt my darling and thine。 Doth the lamb appeal from the
shepherd to the wolf？ Even so shall the Maid appeal from me to thy
Lady。 What！ ask thy Lady at thy leisure what her wont hath been
with her thrall； she shall think it a fair tale to tell thee
thereof。 But thereof is my Maid all whole now by reason of her
wisdom in leechcraft； or somewhat more。 And now I tell thee again；
that the beforesaid Maid must needs do my will； for if I be the deep
sea； and I deem not so ill of myself； that other one is the devil；
as belike thou shalt find out for thyself later on。 Yea； all is
well with me； and more than well。〃
And therewith he swung merrily into the litten hall。 But Walter
went out into the moonlit night； and wandered about for an hour or
more； and stole warily into the hall and thence into his own
chamber。 There he did off that royal array； and did his own raiment
upon him； he girt him with sword and knife； took his bow and quiver；
and stole down and out again； even as he had come in。 Then he
fetched a compass； and came down into the hazel…coppice from the
north； and lay hidden there while the night wore； till he deemed it
would lack but little of midnight。
CHAPTER XXI： WALTER AND THE MAID FLEE FROM THE GOLDEN HOUSE
There he abode amidst the hazels； hearkening every littlest sound；
and the sounds were nought but the night voices of the wood； till
suddenly there burst forth from the house a great wailing cry。
Walter's heart came up into his mouth； but he had no time to do
aught； for following hard on the cry came the sound of light feet
close to him； the boughs were thrust aside； and there was come the
Maid； and she but in her white coat； and barefoot。 And then first
he felt the sweetness of her flesh on his； for she caught him by the
hand and said breathlessly： 〃Now； now！ there may yet be time； or
even too much； it may be。 For the saving of breath ask me no
questions； but come！〃
He dallied not； but went as she led； and they were lightfoot； both
of them。
They went the same way； due south to wit； whereby he had gone a…
hunting with the Lady； and whiles they ran and whiles they walked；
but so fast they went； that by grey of the dawn they were come as
far as that coppice or thicket of the Lion； and still they hastened
onward； and but little had the Maid spoken； save here and there a
word to hearten up Walter； and here and there a shy word of
endearment。 At last the dawn grew into early day； and as they came
over the brow of a bent； they looked down over a plain land whereas
the trees grew scatter…meal； and beyond the plain rose up the land
into long green hills； and over those again were blue mountains
great and far away。
Then spake the Maid： 〃Over yonder lie the outlying mountains of the
Bears； and through them we needs must pass； to our great peril。
Nay； friend；〃 she said； as he handled his sword…hilt； 〃it must be
patience and wisdom to bring us through； and not the fallow blade of
one man； though he be a good one。 But look！ below there runs a
stream through the first of the plain； and I see nought for it but
we must now rest our bodies。 Moreover I have a tale to tell thee
which is burning my heart； for maybe there will be a pardon to ask
of thee moreover； wherefore I fear thee。〃
Quoth Walter： 〃How may that be？〃
She answered him not； but took his hand and led him down the bent。
But he said： 〃Thou sayest； rest； but are we now out of all peril of
the chase？〃
She said： 〃I cannot tell till I know what hath befallen her。 If
she be not to hand to set on her trackers； they will scarce happen
on us now； if it be not for that one。〃
And she shuddered； and he felt her hand change as he held it。
Then she said： 〃But peril or no peril； needs must we rest； for I
tell thee again； what I have to say to thee burneth my bosom for
fear of thee； so that I can go no further until I have told thee。〃
Then he said：