t,
verily, she is the woman that I love best. And if my hand hath wounded
her grievously, my arm would more willingly protect her.'

'Indeed, thou art brave and bold, sir knight,' said the maiden, 'and
much may you win, if you are as faithful in your service and devotion
to her as you have been in the service of your king, the great Arthur.'

And when it had passed midday, Elined said to Sir Owen:

'You must keep this chamber while I go and woo for thee. Stir not out
into the city lest ill befall thee.'

Elined went to the castle and found all was in confusion, with mourning
and lamentation. Her mistress she found sitting listlessly looking from
the window with pale sorrow on her face; and to Elined's greeting she
would respond not.

'It astounds me,' said Elined at length, 'to find you giving yourself
up to unavailing sorrow in this way.'

'It astounds me also,' said the countess reproachfully, 'that in my
time of trouble and affliction, you, whom I have enriched and favoured
beyond all my handmaidens, should desert me. If I did not love thee, I
should order thee to be executed.'

'It was for thy advantage that I was absent,' said Elined. 'I
reproached not thy grief when thy lord lay dying, but now you have
yourself to think of. Yet you seem more willing to live with the dead
than to take heed what may happen to yourself in a few hours. I would
have thee remember that a live dog is better than a dead lion.'

'Hence from my sight, unfeeling girl!' cried the countess in anger.
'There is no one in the world to compare with my dead lord in beauty,
in strength, and in prowess. Get thee gone!'

Without a word Elined turned and went from the room. But she had not
gone far before she heard the countess coughing behind her, and on
looking back her mistress beckoned to her.

'You are indeed hardhearted, Elined,' said she, 'to think to leave me
in my grief, and in my need of good counsel. I will overlook thy
cruelty if, as you say, you have been absent for my advantage. What
mean you by that?'

'This is my meaning,' said Elined. 'Thou knowest that without a man of
knightly prowess and bravery, thou canst not hope to guard the fountain
and keep these wide dominions in the power of thyself. Thou art the
prey and booty of any bold bandit lord that chooses to make war upon
thee, and to capture and wed thee. And dost thou forget the wiles and
treachery of thy old lover whom thou hast flouted, Sir Dewin of Castle
Cower? H