l her haste she had been in, she went
somewhat leisurely, picking her way daintily so as to tread the smooth,
and keep her feet from the rough.

Thus they went on, into the thicket and through it, and the damsel put
the thorns and briars aside daintily as she stepped, and went slower
still till they came to a pleasant place of oak-trees with greensward
beneath them; and then she stopped, and turning, faced Ralph, and spoke
with another voice than heretofore, whereas there was naught rueful or
whining therein, but somewhat both of glee and of mocking as it seemed.
"Sir knight," she said, "I have a word or two for thy ears; and this is
a pleasant place, and good for us to talk together, whereas it is
neither too near to her, nor too far from her, so that I can easily
find my way back to her. Now, lord, I pray thee light down and listen
to me." And therewith she sat down on the grass by the bole of a great
oak.

"But thy lady," said Ralph, "thy lady?" "O sir," she said; "My lady
shall do well enough: she is not tied so fast, but she might loose
herself if the need were pressing. Light down, dear lord, light down!"

But Ralph sat still on his horse, and knit his brows, and said: "What
is this, damsel? hast thou been playing a play with me? Where is thy
lady whom thou wouldst have me deliver? If this be but game and play,
let me go my ways; for time presses, and I have a weighty errand on
hand."

She rose up and came close to him, and laid a hand on his knee and
looked wistfully into his face as she said: "Nay then, I can tell thee
all the tale as thou sittest in thy saddle; for meseems short will be
thy farewell when I have told it." And she sighed withal.

Then Ralph was ashamed to gainsay her, and she now become gentle and
sweet and enticing, and sad withal; so he got off his horse and tied
him to a tree, and went and stood by the damsel as she lay upon the
grass, and said: "I prithee tell thy tale and let me depart if there be
naught for me to do."

Then she said: "This is the first word, that as to the Red Rock, I
lied; and my lady is the Queen of Utterbol, and I am her thrall, and it
is I who have drawn thee hither from the camp."

The blood mounted to Ralph's brow for anger; when he called to mind how
he had been led hither and thither on other folk's errands ever since
he left Upmeads. But he said naught, and Agatha looked on him timidly
and said: "I say I am her thrall, and I did it to serve her an