d began to walk about, and in the Palace
Pleasaunce, one day, I met Sir Guy walking by himself.

So I told him how that I thanked him with all my heart for my life, but
he said it was only what a good knight ought to do; for that hearing the
mad enterprise I had ridden on, he had followed me swiftly with a few
knights, and so saved me.

He looked stately and grand as he spoke, yet I did not love him, nay,
rather hated him, though I tried hard not to do so, for there was some
air of pitiless triumph and coldness of heart in him that froze me; so
scornfully, too, he said that about 'my mad enterprise,' as though I
_must_ be wrong in everything I did. Yet afterwards, as I came to know
more, I pitied him instead of hating; but at that time I thought his life
was without a shadow, for I did not know that the Lady Alys loved him
not.

And now I turned from him, and walked slowly up and down the
garden-paths, not exactly thinking, but with some ghosts of former
thoughts passing through my mind. The day, too, was most lovely, as it
grew towards evening, and I had all the joy of a man lately sick in the
flowers and all things; if any bells at that time had begun to chime, I
think I should have lain down on the grass and wept; but now there was
but the noise of the bees in the yellow musk, and that had not music
enough to bring me sorrow.

And as I walked I stooped and picked a great orange lily, and held it in
my hand, and lo! down the garden walk, the same fair damozel that had
before this given me good counsel in the hall.

Thereat I was very glad, and walked to meet her smiling, but she was very
grave, and said:

'Fair sir, the Lady Alys des roses wishes to see you in her chamber.'

I could not answer a word, but turned, and went with her while she walked
slowly beside me, thinking deeply, and picking a rose to pieces as she
went; and I, too, thought much, what could she want me for? surely, but
for one thing; and yet--and yet.

But when we came to the lady's chamber, behold! before the door, stood a
tall knight, fair and strong, and in armour, save his head, who seemed to
be guarding the door, though not so as to seem so to all men.

He kissed the damozel eagerly, and then she said to me, 'This is Sir
William de la Fosse, my true knight;' so the knight took my hand and
seemed to have such joy of me, that all the blood came up to my face for
pure delight.

But then the damozel Blanche opened the door and bade me