go in while she
abode still without; so I entered, when I had put aside the heavy silken
hangings that filled the doorway.

And there sat Alys; she arose when she saw me, and stood pale, and with
her lips apart, and her hands hanging loose by her side.

And then all doubt and sorrow went quite away from me; I did not even
feel drunk with joy, but rather felt that I could take it all in, lose no
least fragment of it; then at once I felt that I was beautiful, and brave
and true; I had no doubt as to what I should do now.

I went up to her, and first kissed her on the forehead, and then on the
feet, and then drew her to me, and with my arms round about her, and her
arms hanging loose, and her lips dropped, we held our lips together so
long that my eyes failed me, and I could not see her, till I looked at
her green raiment.

And she had never spoken to me yet; she seemed just then as if she were
going to, for she lifted her eyes to mine, and opened her mouth; but she
only said, 'Dear Lionel,' and fell forward as though she were faint; and
again I held her, and kissed her all over; and then she loosed her hair
that it fell to her feet, and when I clipped her next, she threw it over
me, that it fell all over my scarlet robes like trickling of some golden
well in Paradise.

Then, within a while, we called in the Lady Blanche and Sir William de la
Fosse, and while they talked about what we should do, we sat together and
kissed; and what they said, I know not.

But I remember, that that night, quite late, Alys and I rode out side by
side from the good city in the midst of a great band of knights and men-
at-arms, and other bands drew to us as we went, and in three days we
reached Sir William's castle which was called 'La Garde des Chevaliers.'

And straightway he caused toll the great bell, and to hang out from the
highest tower a great banner of red and gold, cut into so many points
that it seemed as if it were tattered; for this was the custom of his
house when they wanted their vassals together.

And Alys and I stood up in the tower by the great bell as they tolled it;
I remember now that I had passed my hand underneath her hair, so that the
fingers of it folded over and just lay on her cheek; she gazed down on
the bell, and at every deafening stroke she drew in her breath and opened
her eyes to a wide stare downwards.

But on the very day that we came, they arrayed her in gold and flowers
(and there were angels an