otherwise　with　her　than　that　she　shall　be　well…content。〃
  Then　the　talk　between　them　dropped；　and　the　King's　Son　turned　off
  toward　the　wood；　singing　and　joyous；　but　Walter　went　soberly　toward
  the　house。　　Forsooth　he　was　not　greatly　cast　down；　for　besides　that
  he　knew　that　the　King's　Son　was　false；　he　deemed　that　under　this
  double　tryst　lay　something　which　was　a…doing　in　his　own　behalf。　　Yet
  was　he　eager　and　troubled；　if　not　down…hearted；　and　his　soul　was
  cast　about　betwixt　hope　and　fear。
  CHAPTER　XX：　　WALTER　IS　BIDDEN　TO　ANOTHER　TRYST
  So　came　he　into　the　pillared　hall；　and　there　he　found　the　Lady
  walking　to　and　fro　by　the　high…seat；　and　when　he　drew　nigh　she
  turned　on　him；　and　said　in　a　voice　rather　eager　than　angry：　　〃What
  hast　thou　done；　Squire？　　Why　art　thou　come　before　me？〃
  He　was　abashed；　and　bowed　before　her　and　said：　　〃O　gracious　Lady；
  thou　badest　me　service；　and　I　have　been　about　it。〃
  She　said：　　〃Tell　me　then；　tell　me；　what　hath　betided？〃
  〃Lady；〃　said　he；　〃when　I　entered　the　thicket　of　thy　swooning　I　found
  there　no　carcase　of　the　lion；　nor　any　sign　of　the　dragging　away　of
  him。〃
  She　looked　full　in　his　face　for　a　little；　and　then　went　to　her
  chair；　and　sat　down　therein；　and　in　a　little　while　spake　to　him　in　a
  softer　voice；　and　said：　　〃Did　I　not　tell　thee　that　some　enemy　had
  done　that　unto　me？　and　lo！　now　thou　seest　that　so　it　is。〃
  Then　was　she　silent　again；　and　knit　her　brows　and　set　her　teeth；　and
  thereafter　she　spake　harshly　and　fiercely：　　〃But　I　will　overcome
  her；　and　make　her　days　evil；　but　keep　death　away　from　her；　that　she
  may　die　many　times　over；　and　know　all　the　sickness　of　the　heart；
  when　foes　be　nigh；　and　friends　afar；　and　there　is　none　to　deliver！〃
  Her　eyes　flashed；　and　her　face　was　dark　with　anger；　but　she　turned
  and　caught　Walter's　eyes；　and　the　sternness　of　his　face；　and　she
  softened　at　once；　and　said：　　〃But　thou！　this　hath　little　to　do　with
  thee；　and　now　to　thee　I　speak：　　Now　cometh　even　and　night。　　Go　thou
  to　thy　chamber；　and　there　shalt　thou　find　raiment　worthy　of　thee；
  what　thou　now　art；　and　what　thou　shalt　be；　do　on　the　same；　and　make
  thyself　most　goodly；　and　then　come　thou　hither　and　eat　and　drink
  with　me；　and　afterwards　depart　whither　thou　wilt；　till　the　night　has
  worn　to　its　midmost；　and　then　come　thou　to　my　chamber；　to　wit；
  through　the　ivory　door　in　the　gallery　above；　and　then　and　there
  shall　I　tell　thee　a　thing；　and　it　shall　be　for　the　weal　both　of　thee
  and　of　me；　but　for　the　grief　and　woe　of　the　Enemy。〃
  Therewith　she　reached　her　hand　to　him；　and　he　kissed　it；　and
  departed　and　came　to　his　chamber；　and　found　raiment　therebefore　rich
  beyond　measure；　and　he　wondered　if　any　new　snare　lay　therein：　　yet
  if　there　were；　he　saw　no　way　whereby　he　might　escape　it；　so　he　did
  it　on；　and　became　as　the　most　glorious　of　kings；　and　yet　lovelier
  than　any　king　of　the　world。
  Sithence　he　went　his　way　into　the　pillared　hall；　when　it　was　now
  night；　and　without　the　moon　was　up；　and　the　trees　of　the　wood　as
  still　as　images。　　But　within　the　hall　shone　bright　with　many
  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