"Fair friend," say they,
"Keep good watch over this knight that he flee not away, for he goeth
a-cadging from, hostel to hostel and maketh him be called Messire
Gawain, but Messire Gawain meseemeth is he not. For, and it were he,
and we had been minded to watch with him two nights, he would have
wished it to be three or four."

"Damsel," saith the dwarf, "He may not flee away save he go afoot, for
his horse is in my keeping."

And Messire Gawain heareth well enough that which the damsels say, but
he answereth them never a word. Thereupon they depart, and say: God
give him an ill night, for an evil knight and a vanquished and
recreant, and command the dwarf that he move not on any occasion.
Messire Gawain slept right little the night, and so soon as he saw the
day, arose and found his arms ready and his horse that had been led all
ready saddled before the tent. He armed himself as swiftly as he might,
and the dwarf helpeth him and saith to him: "Sir, you have not done
service to our damsels as they would fain you should, wherefore they
make sore complaint of you."

"That grieveth me," saith Messire Gawain, "if that I have deserved it."

"It is great pity," saith the dwarf, "when knight so comely as be you
is so churlish as they say."

"They may say their pleasure," saith he, "for it is their right. I know
not to whom to render thanks for the good lodging that I have had save
to God, and if I shall see the lord of the tent or the lady I shall con
them much thanks thereof."

XI.

Thereupon, lo you, where two knights come in front of the tent on their
horses, all armed, and see Messire Gawain that was mounted and had his
shield on his neck and his spear in his fist, as he that thinketh to go
without doing aught further. And the knights come before him: "Sir,"
say they, "Pay for your lodging! Last night did we put ourselves to
misease on your account and left you the tent and all that is therein
at your pleasure, and now you are fain to go in this fashion."

"What pleaseth it you that I should do?" saith Messire Gawain.

"It is meet I should requite you of my victual and the honour of the
tent."

Thereupon, lo you, where the two damsels come that were of right great
beauty. "Sir Knight," say they, "Now shall we see whether you be King
Arthur's nephew!"

"By my faith," saith the dwarf, "Methinketh this is not he that shall
do away the evil custom whereby we lose the coming hither of knights!
Albeit if h