he did compelled, and not of her free will,
and I forgive it her. And moreover, this last time she suffered in her
body for the helping of me; so if thou mightest do her asking I were the
better pleased."

"It shall be as thou wilt, my Lady," said the Earl, "and I will have her
with me and keep her quiet in Meadhamstead; but, by Allhallows! had it
not been for thy word we would have had her whipped into the wild-wood,
and hanged up on to a tree thereafter."

Then Aloyse knelt before Goldilind and kissed her feet, and wept, and
drew back pale and trembling. But Goldilind shook her rein once for
all now, and her apple-grey horse went forth with her; Christopher came
after, leading the sumpter beast, and forth they went, and passed over
the open green about the Castle, and came on to the woodland way whereby
Goldilind had fled that other time.

CHAPTER XXII. OF THE WOODLAND BRIDE-CHAMBER.

They rode in silence a good way, and it was some three hours after noon,
and the day as fair and bright as might be. Christopher held his peace
for sweet shame that he was alone with a most fair maid, and she his
own, and without defence against him. But she amidst of her silence
turned, now red, and now somewhat pale, and now and again she looked
somewhat askance on him, and he deemed her looks were no kinder than
they should be.

At last she spake, yet not looking on him, and said: "So, Forester,
now is done what I must needs do: thy life is saved, and I am quit of
Greenharbour, and its prison, and its torments: whither away then?"

Quoth he, all dismayed, for her voice was the voice of anger: "I wot
not whither, save to the house thou hast blessed already with thy dear
body."

At that word she turned quite pale, and trembled, and spake not for a
while, and smote her horse and hastened on the way, and he after her;
but when he was come up with her again, then she said, still not
looking at him: "A house of woodmen and wolf-heads. Is that a meet
dwelling-place for me? Didst thou hear men at Greenharbour say that I am
a Queen?"

"Hear them I did," quoth he; "but meseemeth nought like a Queen had they
done with thee."

She said: "And dost thou mock me with that? thou?" And she burst out
weeping. He answered not, for sore grief smote him, remembering her hand
in his but a little while ago. And again she hurried on, and he followed
her.

When he came up with her she said: "And thou, didst thou woo me as a
Queen?"

"L