t beat and his cheek flush, and he
went back to the castle somewhat speedily; for he said to himself,
after the folly of lovers, "Maybe she will be come even now, and I not
there to meet her." Yet when he came to the castle-gate his heart
misgave him, and he would not enter at once, but turned about to go
round the wall by the north and west. In the castle he saw no soul
save the old dame looking out of the window and nodding to him, but in
the pasture all about were neatherds and shepherds, both men and women;
and at the north-west corner, whereas the river drew quite close to the
wall, he came upon two damsels of the field-folk fishing with an angle
in a quiet pool of the stream. He greeted them, and they, who were
young and goodly, returned his greeting, but were shamefaced at his
gallant presence, as indeed was he at the thoughts of his heart mingled
with the sight of their fairness. So he passed on at first without
more words than his greeting. Yet presently he turned back again, for
he longed to hear some word more concerning the Lady whose coming he
abode. They stood smiling and blushing as he came up to them again,
and heeded their angles little.

Said Ralph: "Fair maidens, do ye know at all when the Lady of the
castle may be looked for?" They were slow to answer, but at last one
said: "No, fair sir, such as we know nothing of the comings and goings
of great folk."

Said Ralph, smiling on her for kindness, and pleasure of her fairness:
"Is it not so that ye will be glad of her coming?"

But she answered never a word, only looked at him steadily, with her
great grey eyes fixed in wonderment, while the other one looked down as
if intent on her angling tools.

Ralph knew not how to ask another question, so he turned about with a
greeting word again, and this time went on steadily round about the
wall.

And now in his heart waxed the desire of that Lady, once seen, as he
deemed, in such strange wise; but he wondered within himself if the
devil had not sown that longing within him: whereas it might be that
this woman on whom he had set his heart was herself no real woman but a
devil, and one of the goddesses of the ancient world, and his heart was
sore and troubled by many doubts and hopes and fears; but he said to
himself that when he saw her then could he judge between the good and
the evil, and could do or forbear, and that the sight of her would cure
all.

Thus thinking he walked swiftly, and was