the knights and ladies came to see the strange
sight.

And the King took the letter from the fair maid's hand and read it
aloud.

'I am the Lily Maid of Astolat, and because Sir Lancelot left me, I
make unto all ladies my moan. Pray for my soul.'

When they heard it the lords and ladies wept with pity.

And Sir Lancelot buried Elaine sadly. And sometimes when those who
loved him were jealous and unkind, he thought tenderly of the pure
and simple love of the Lily Maid of Astolat.

[Illustration: THE LILY MAID OF ASTOLAT

Page 44]

PELLEAS AND ETTARDE

Far away in a dreary land there lived a lad called Pelleas. The men
were rough and the women grave in the dreary land where Pelleas
lived.

To this far-away country there had come tales of the gay lords and
ladies of Arthur's court.

Pelleas heard, in great astonishment, that the men in Arthur's
country were brave and gentle, and that the women smiled. He would
go away from his own land, he thought, and see these strange and
happy people.

Soon the rough men in his country laughed at Pelleas, for he began
to grow brave and gentle like the knights who were so often in his
thoughts.

And the grave women looked at each other in surprise, as they saw
the lad's bright face and caught the smile on his lips. Pelleas
had been dreaming about the gay ladies he had heard of, till some
of their gladness had passed into his face.

When he was older Pelleas left his country and all the land that
belonged to him there. He would take his horse and his sword and
ask the great King Arthur to make him one of his knights, for had
he not learned knightly ways from the wonderful tales he had heard
long ago?

After many days Pelleas reached the court. And when the King had
listened to the young man's story, and had seen his beauty and
strength, he gladly made him his knight.

Then Pelleas was ready to begin his adventures. He would go to
Carleon, where, for three days, the King's tournament was to be
held.

The King had promised a golden circlet and a good sword to the
knight who showed himself the strongest. The golden circlet was to
be given to the fairest lady in the field, and she was to be called
the 'Queen of Beauty.'

On his way to Carleon, Pelleas rode along a hot and dusty road.
There were no trees to shelter him from the scorching sun, but he
rode on steadfastly, for he knew that a great shady forest lay
before him.

When at last Pelleas reached the