ath he not sworn to take thee and thy kingdom, sooner or later,
by fair means or by foul? Therefore it behoves thee at once to find a
noble and generous knight, courtly and worshipful, who will guard thee
and love thee, and hold down the turbulent lords, thy vassals and thy
neighbours.'

'Hard will such a task be,' sighed the countess, 'for the Earl Cadoc
was a man among men.'

'Yet I will wager to find thee such another, even excelling him in
knightly prowess, in beauty of person, and for love and devotion to
thee more than his equal,' replied Elined, who remembered that the dead
earl had not been over tender to his gentle countess on many occasions.

'And where couldst thou find this paragon?' said the countess, flushing
a little at the reminder of her late lord's neglect.

'At the court of King Arthur,' replied Elined; 'for there are to be
found the peerless knights of the world, men of their knightly words,
and devoted to love and war.

'If it be that I must think of wedding again so soon,' sighed the
countess, 'go then to King Arthur, and find me such a knight. But let
him be gentle as well as brave, with fine and courtly manners--a man,
indeed, whom I can really love.'

Elined went and kissed the flushing cheek of her mistress.

'Trust me for that,' she said gently. 'I would do that as much for
myself as for thee, my dear Carol. For did it not often go to my heart
to see thee pine for gentle speech and affection, and sorrow at the
harsh words thou didst suffer? I will set forth at once to Caerleon,
and him that I bring shall be worthy of thee. And all others that may
come and woo thee, do thou keep at arm's length until I return.'

Elined departed from the castle, but she did not go beyond the town. It
was in her mind to lie hidden for as long a time as it would take her
to go to Caerleon and return therefrom. Meanwhile, going about
disguised, she would be able to see what the many lords were doing who
would essay to woo the countess, seeing that, lovely and rich as she
was, she would be a splendid prize.

And things happened as she had foreseen. Every day there came into the
town one cavalcade or more, with some baron or earl in flashing armour
at the head of his vassals, come to try his fortune and to win the
lovely Countess of the Fountain, and to possess her wide dominions.

Daily the countess was compelled to receive fresh comers in audience,
and while with deft excuses she kept each at arm's lengt