awhile agone? For indeed we need somewhat, if it were but to
keep the life in the body of this wounded man."

Ralph sprang up and turned to the horse, and found the saddle-bags on
him, and took from them bread and flesh, and a flask of good wine, and
brought them to the Lady, who laughed and said: "Thou art a good
seeker and no ill finder." Then she gave the wounded man to drink of
the wine, so that he stirred somewhat, and the colour came into his
face a little. Then she bade gather store of bracken for a bed for the
Black Knight, and Ralph bestirred himself therein, but the Knight of
the Sun sat looking at the Lady as she busied herself with his friend,
and gloom seemed gathering on him again.

But when the bracken was enough, the Lady made a bed deftly and
speedily; and between the three they laid the wounded man thereon, who
seemed coming to himself somewhat, and spake a few words, but those
nothing to the point. Then the Lady took her gay embroidered cloak,
which lay at the foot of the oak tree, and cast it over him and, as
Ralph deemed, eyed him lovingly, and belike the Knight of the Sun
thought in likewise, for he scowled upon her; and for awhile but little
was the joyance by the ancient oak, unless it were with the Lady.

CHAPTER 24

Supper and Slumber in the Woodland Hall

But when all was done to make the wounded knight as easy as might be,
the Lady turned to the other twain, and said kindly: "Now, lords, it
were good to get to table, since here is wherewithal." And she looked
on them both full kindly as she spake the words, but nowise wantonly;
even as the lady of a fair house might do by honoured guests. So the
hearts of both were cheered, and nothing loth they sat down by her on
the grass and fell to meat. Yet was the Knight of the Sun a little
moody for a while, but when he had eaten and drunken somewhat, he said:
"It were well if someone might come hereby, some hermit or holy man, to
whom we might give the care of Walter: then might we home to Sunway,
and send folk with a litter to fetch him home softly when the due time
were."

"Yea," said the Lady, "that might happen forsooth, and perchance it
will; and if it were before nightfall it were better."

Ralph saw that as she spake she took hold of the two fingers of her
left hand with her right forefinger, and let the thumb meet it, so that
it made a circle about them, and she spake something therewith in a low
voice, but he heeded it l