at the Castle of Abundance I foresaw not, any more than I
can foresee to-morrow. Only I knew that we must needs pass by the place
whereto I shall now lead thee, and I made provision there. Lo! now the
marvel slain: and in such wise shall perish other marvels which have
been told of me; yet not all. Come now, let us to the way."

So they joined hands and left the pleasant place, and were again going
speedily amidst the close pine woods awhile, where it was smooth
underfoot and silent of noises withal.

Now Ralph said: "Beloved, thou hast told me of many things, but naught
concerning how thou camest to be wedded to the Knight of the Sun, and
of thy dealings with him."

Said she, reddening withal: "I will tell thee no more than this,
unless thou compel me: that he would have me wed him, as it were
against my will, till I ceased striving against him, and I went with
him to Sunway, which is no great way from the Castle of Abundance, and
there befell that treason of Walter the Black, who loved me and prayed
for my love, and when I gainsaid him, swore by all that was holy,
before my lord, that it was I who sought his love, and how I had told
and taught him ways of witchcraft, whereby we might fulfill our love,
so that the Baron should keep a wife for another man. And the Knight
of the Sun, whose heart had been filled with many tales of my wisdom,
true and false, believed his friend whom he loved, and still believeth
him, though he burneth for the love of me now; whereas in those first
days of the treason, he burned with love turned to hatred. So of this
came that shaming and casting-forth of me. Whereof I will tell thee
but this, that the brother of my lord, even the tall champion whom thou
hast seen, came upon me presently, when I was cast forth; because he
was coming to see the Knight of the Sun at his home; and he loved me,
but not after the fashion of his brother, but was kind and mild with
me. So then I went with him to Hampton and the Dry Tree, and great joy
made the folk thereof of my coming, whereas they remembered their
asking of aforetime that I would come to be a Queen over them, and
there have I dwelt ever since betwixt Hampton and the Castle of
Abundance; and that tall champion has been ever as a brother unto me."

Said Ralph, "And thou art their Queen there?" "Yea," she said, "in a
fashion; yet have they another who is mightier than I, and might, if
she durst, hang me over the battlements of the Scau