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〃Nay；〃 she said； 〃there were many folk about； but they were all as
images of the aliens to me。 Now hearken further： three months
thereafter came the dream upon me again； when we were all three
together in the Pillared Hall； and again was the vision somewhat
dim。 Once more we were in the street of a busy town； but all unlike
to that other one； and there were men standing together on our right
hands by the door of a house。〃
〃Yea； yea；〃 quoth Walter； 〃and； forsooth； one of them was who but
I。〃
〃Refrain thee； beloved！〃 she said； 〃for my tale draweth to its
ending； and I would have thee hearken heedfully： for maybe thou
shalt once again deem my deed past pardon。 Some twenty days after
this last dream； I had some leisure from my Mistress's service； so I
went to disport me by the Well of the Oak…tree （or forsooth she
might have set in my mind the thought of going there； that I might
meet thee and give her some occasion against me）； and I sat thereby；
nowise loving the earth； but sick at heart； because of late the
King's Son had been more than ever instant with me to yield him my
body； threatening me else with casting me into all that the worst
could do to me of torments and shames day by day。 I say my heart
failed me； and I was wellnigh brought to the point of yea…saying his
desires； that I might take the chance of something befalling me that
were less bad than the worst。 But here must I tell thee a thing；
and pray thee to take it to heart。 This； more than aught else； had
given me strength to nay…say that dastard； that my wisdom both hath
been； and now is； the wisdom of a wise maid； and not of a woman； and
all the might thereof shall I lose with my maidenhead。 Evil wilt
thou think of me then； for all I was tried so sore； that I was at
point to cast it all away； so wretchedly as I shrank from the horror
of the Lady's wrath。〃
〃But there as I sat pondering these things； I saw a man coming； and
thought no otherwise thereof but that it was the King's Son； till I
saw the stranger drawing near； and his golden hair； and his grey
eyes； and then I heard his voice； and his kindness pierced my heart；
and I knew that my friend had come to see me； and O； friend； these
tears are for the sweetness of that past hour！〃
Said Walter： 〃I came to see my friend； I also。 Now have I noted
what thou badest me； and I will forbear all as thou commandest me；
till we be safe out of the desert and far away from all evil things；
but wilt thou ban me from all caresses？〃
She laughed amidst of her tears； and said： 〃O； nay； poor lad； if
thou wilt be but wise。〃
Then she leaned toward him； and took his face betwixt her hands and
kissed him oft； and the tears started in his eyes for love and pity
of her。
Then she said： 〃Alas； friend！ even yet mayst thou doom me guilty；
and all thy love may turn away from me； when I have told thee all
that I have done for the sake of thee and me。 O； if then there
might be some chastisement for the guilty woman； and not mere
sundering！〃
〃Fear nothing； sweetling；〃 said he； 〃for indeed I deem that already
I know partly what thou hast done。〃
She sighed； and said： 〃I will tell thee next； that I banned thy
kissing and caressing of me till to…day because I knew that my
Mistress would surely know if a man； if thou； hadst so much as
touched a finger of mine in love； it was to try me herein that on
the morning of the hunting she kissed and embraced me； till I almost
died thereof； and showed thee my shoulder and my limbs； and to try
thee withal； if thine eye should glister or thy cheek flush thereat；
for indeed she was raging in jealousy of thee。 Next； my friend；
even whiles we were talking together at the Well of the Rock； I was
pondering on what we should do to escape from this land of lies。
Maybe thou wilt say： Why didst thou not take my hand and flee with
me as we fled to…day？ Friend； it is most true； that were she not
dead we had not escaped thus far。 For her trackers would have
followed us； set on by her； and brought us back to an evil fate。
Therefore I tell thee that from the first I did plot the death of
those two； the Dwarf and the Mistress。 For no otherwise mightest
thou live； or I escape from death in life。 But as to the dastard
who threatened me with a thrall's pains； I heeded him nought to live
or die； for well I knew that thy valiant sword； yea； or thy bare
hands； would speedily tame him。 Now first I knew that I must make a
show of yielding to the King's Son； and somewhat how I did therein；
thou knowest。 But no night and no time did I give him to bed me；
till after I had met thee as thou wentest to the Golden House；
before the adventure of fetching the lion's skin； and up to that
time I had scarce known what to do； save ever to bid thee； with sore
grief and pain； to yield thee to the wicked woman's desire。 But as
we spake together there by the stream； and I saw that the Evil Thing
（whose head thou clavest e'en now） was spying on us； then amidst the
sickness of terror which ever came over me whensoever I thought of
him； and much more when I saw him （ah！ he is dead now！）； it came
flashing into my mind how I might destroy my enemy。 Therefore I
made the Dwarf my messenger to her； by bidding thee to my bed in
such wise that he might hear it。 And wot thou well； that he
speedily carried her the tidings。 Meanwhile I hastened to lie to
the King's Son； and all privily bade him come to me and not thee。
And thereafter； by dint of waiting and watching； and taking the only
chance that there was； I met thee as thou camest back from fetching
the skin of the lion that never was； and gave thee that warning； or
else had we been undone indeed。〃
Said Walter： 〃Was the lion of her making or of thine then？〃
She said： 〃Of hers： why should I deal with such a matter？〃
〃Yea；〃 said Walter； 〃but she verily swooned； and she was verily
wroth with the Enemy。〃
The Maid smiled； and said： 〃If her lie was not like very sooth；
then had she not been the crafts…master that I knew her： one may
lie otherwise than with the tongue alone： yet indeed her wrath
against the Enemy was nought feigned； for the Enemy was even I； and
in these latter days never did her wrath leave me。 But to go on
with my tale。〃
〃Now doubt thou not； that； when thou camest into the hall yester
eve； the Mistress knew of thy counterfeit tryst with me； and meant
nought but death for thee； yet first would she have thee in her arms
again； therefore did she make much of thee at table （and that was
partly for my torment also）； and therefore did she make that tryst
with thee； and deemed doubtless that thou wouldst not dare to forgo
it； even if thou shouldst go to me thereafter。〃
〃Now I had trained that dastard to me as I have told thee； but I
gave him a sleepy draught； so that when I came to the bed he might
not move toward me nor open his eyes： but I lay down beside him； so
that the Lady might know that my body had been there； for well had
she wotted if it had not。 Then as there I lay I cast over him thy
shape； so that none might have known but that thou wert lying by my
side； and there； trembling； I abode what should befall。 Thus I
pass