g knight, and then said some words
that I suppose gentlemen in those old times were more prone to use
before ladies than they are to-day. Which shows the optimists are
right.

Then, still distant, but not so distant, came another roar.

"Geoffrey!" Elaine said, laying a hand upon his arm; "indeed, you must
hear me now, and make no delay with contrary notions. There is no
danger for me. Look. He will first be by himself to clear the way of
watchers. No one peeps out of windows when the Dragon's howling. Next,
the rest will come and all go into papa's cellar for the wine. But we
must get these others away, and that's for you." She paused.

"Well? Well?" he said.

"It will go thus: the passage shall hide me, and the door of it be
shut. You'll watch over by the trees, and when you see all have come
inside here, make some sort of noise at the edge of the wood."

"What sort of noise?"

"Oh,--not as if you suspected. Seem to be passing by. Play you are a
villager going home late. When they hear that, they'll run away for
fear of their secret. The Dragon will surely stay behind."

"Why will he stay behind? Why will they run away?"

"Dear Geoffrey, don't you see that if these men were to be seen in
company with the Dragon by one who till now knew them as monks, where
would their living be gone to? Of course, they will get themselves out
of sight, and the Dragon will remain as a sort of human scarecrow.
Then I'll come out from the passage-door."

"One would almost think you desired that villain to kill you," said
Geoffrey. "No, indeed. I'll not consent to that part."

"How shall he kill me here?" Elaine replied. "Do you not see the
Dragon of Wantley would have to carry a maiden away? He would not dare
to put me to the sword. When I come, I shall speak three words to him.
Before there is time for him to think what to do, you will hear me say
(for you must have now run up from the wood) 'the legend has come
true!' Then, when I tell him that, do you walk in ready with your
sword to keep him polite. Oh, indeed," said the lady, with her eyes
sparkling on Geoffrey, "we must keep his manners good for him. For I
think he's one of those persons who might turn out very rude in a
trying situation."

All this was far from pleasing to young Geoffrey. But Elaine showed
him how no other way was to be found by which Sir Francis could be
trapped red-handed and distant from help. While the knight was bending
his brows down with tryin