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 mind and shaken in spirit； and
withal he seemed to see guile and cruel deeds under the talk of
those two； and waxed wrathful thereat。 Yet he said to himself； that
nought might he do； but was as one bound hand and foot； till he had
seen the Maid again。
CHAPTER XIII： NOW IS THE HUNT UP
Next morning was he up betimes； but he was cast down and heavy of
heart； not looking for aught else to betide than had betid those
last four days。 But otherwise it fell out； for when he came down
into the hall； there was the lady sitting on the high…seat all
alone； clad but in a coat of white linen； and she turned her head
when she heard his footsteps； and looked on him； and greeted him；
and said： 〃Come hither； guest。〃
So he went and stood before her； and she said： 〃Though as yet thou
hast had no welcome here； and no honour； it hath not entered into
thine heart to flee from us； and to say sooth； that is well for
thee； for flee away from our hand thou mightest not； nor mightest
thou depart without our furtherance。 But for this we can thee
thank； that thou hast abided here our bidding and eaten thine heart
through the heavy wearing of four days； and made no plaint。 Yet I
cannot deem thee a dastard； thou so well knit and shapely of body；
so clear…eyed and bold of visage。 Wherefore now I ask thee； art
thou willing to do me service； thereby to earn thy guesting？〃
Walter answered her； somewhat faltering at first； for he was
astonished at the change which had come over her； for now she spoke
to him in friendly wise； though indeed as a great lady would speak
to a young man ready to serve her in all honour。 Said he： 〃Lady； I
can thank thee humbly and heartily in that thou biddest me do thee
service； for these days past I have loathed the emptiness of the
hours； and nought better could I ask for than to serve so glorious a
Mistress in all honour。〃
She frowned somewhat； and said： 〃Thou shalt not call me Mistress；
there is but one who so calleth me； that is my thrall； and thou art
none such。 Thou shalt call me Lady； and I shall be well pleased
that thou be my squire； and for this present thou shalt serve me in
the hunting。 So get thy gear； take thy bow and arrows； and gird
thee to thy sword。 For in this fair land may one find beasts more
perilous than be buck or hart。 I go now to array me； we will depart
while the day is yet young； for so make we the summer day the
fairest。〃
He made obeisance to her； and she arose and went to her chamber； and
Walter dight himself； and then abode her in the porch； and in less
than an hour she came out of the hall； and Walter's heart beat when
he saw that the Maid followed her hard at heel； and scarce might he
school his eyes not to gaze over…eagerly at his dear friend。 She
was clad even as she was before； and was changed in no wise； save
that love troubled her face when she first beheld him； and she had
much ado to master it： howbeit the Mistress heeded not the trouble
of her； or made no semblance of heeding it； till the Maiden's face
was all according to its wont。
But this Walter found strange； that after all that disdain of the
Maid's thralldom which he had heard of the Mistress； and after all
the threats against her； now was the Mistress become mild and
debonaire to her； as a good lady to her good maiden。 When Walter
bowed the knee to her； she turned unto the Maid； and said： 〃Look
thou； my Maid； at this fair new Squire that I have gotten！ Will not
he be valiant in the greenwood？ And see whether he be well shapen
or not。 Doth he not touch thine heart； when thou thinkest of all
the woe； and fear； and trouble of the World beyond the Wood； which
he hath escaped； to dwell in this little land peaceably； and well…
beloved both by the Mistress and the Maid？ And thou； my Squire；
look a little at this fair slim Maiden； and say if she pleaseth thee
not： didst thou deem that we had any thing so fair in this lonely
place？〃
Frank and kind was the smile on her radiant visage； nor did she seem
to note any whit the trouble on Walter's face； nor how he strove to
keep his eyes from the Maid。 As for her； she had so wholly mastered
her countenance； that belike she used her face guilefully； for she
stood as one humble but happy； with a smile on her face； blushing；
and with her head hung down as if shamefaced before a goodly young
man； a stranger。
But the Lady looked upon her kindly and said： 〃Come hither； child；
and fear not this frank and free young man； who belike feareth thee
a little； and full certainly feareth me； and yet only after the
manner of men。〃
And therewith she took the Maid by the hand and drew her to her； and
pressed her to her bosom； and kissed her cheeks and her lips； and
undid the lacing of her gown and bared a shoulder of her； and swept
away her skirt from her feet； and then turned to Walter and said：
〃Lo thou； Squire！ is not this a lovely thing to have grown up
amongst our rough oak…boles？ What！ art thou looking at the iron
ring there？ It is nought； save a token that she is mine； and that I
may not be without her。〃
Then she took the Maid by the shoulders and turned her about as in
sport； and said： 〃Go thou now； and bring hither the good grey ones；
for needs must we bring home some venison to…day； whereas this stout
warrior may not feed on nought save manchets and honey。〃
So the Maid went her way； taking care； as Walter deemed； to give no
side glance to him。 But he stood there shamefaced； so confused with
all this openhearted kindness of the great Lady and with the fresh
sight of the darling beauty of the Maid； that he went nigh to
thinking that all he had heard since he had come to the porch of the
house that first time was but a dream of evil。
But while he stood pondering these matters； and staring before him
as one mazed； the Lady laughed out in his face； and touched him on
the arm and said： 〃Ah； our Squire； is it so that now thou hast seen
my Maid thou wouldst with a good will abide behind to talk with her？
But call to mind thy word pledged to me e'en now！ And moreover I
tell thee this for thy behoof now she is out of ear…shot； that I
will above all things take thee away to…day： for there be other
eyes； and they nought uncomely； that look at whiles on my fair…
ankled thrall； and who knows but the swords might be out if I take
not the better heed； and give thee not every whit of thy will。〃
As she spoke and moved forward； he turned a little； so that now the
edge of that hazel…coppice was within his eye…shot； and he deemed
that once more he saw the yellow…brown evil thing crawling forth
from the thicket； then； turning suddenly on the Lady； he met her
eyes； and seemed in one moment of time to find a far other look in
them than that of frankness and kindness； though in a flash they
changed back again； and she said merrily and sweetly： 〃So； so； Sir
Squire； now art thou awake again； and mayest for a little while look
on me。〃
Now it came into his head； with that look of hers； all that might
befall him and the Maid if he mastered not his passion； nor did what
he might to dissemble； so he bent the knee to her； and spoke boldly
to her in her own vein； and said： 〃Nay； most gracious of ladies；
never would I abide behind to…day since thou farest afield。 But if
my speech be hampered； or mine eyes stray； is it not because my mind
is confused by thy beauty； and the honey of kind words which floweth
from thy mouth？〃
She laughed outright at his word； but not disdainfully； and said：
〃This is well spoken； Squire； and even what a squire should say to
his liege lady； when the sun is up on a fair morning； and she and he
and all the world are glad。〃
She stood quite near him as she spoke； her hand was on his shoulder；
and her eyes shone and sparkled。 Sooth to say； that excusing of his
confusion was like enough in seeming to the truth； for sure never
creature was fashioned fairer than she： clad she was for the
greenwood as the hunting…goddess of the Gentiles； with her green
gown gathered unto her girdle； and sandals on her feet； a bow in her
hand and a quiver at her back： she was taller and bigger of fashion
than the dear Maiden； whiter of flesh； and more glorious； and
brighter of hair； as a flower of flowers for fairness and fragrance。
She said： 〃Thou art verily a fair squire before the hunt is up； and
if thou be as good in the hunting； all will be better than well； and
the guest will be welcome。 But lo！ here cometh our Maid with the
good grey ones。 Go meet her； and we will tarry no longer than for
thy taking the leash in hand。〃
So Walter looked； and saw the Maid coming with two couple of great
hounds in the leash straining against her as she came along。 He ran
lightly to meet her； wondering if he should have a look； or a half…
whisper from her； but she let him take the white thongs from her
hand； with the same half…smile of shamefacedness still set on her
face； and； going past him； came softly up to the Lady； swaying like
a willow…branch in the wind； and stood before her； with her