esently they were feasted by the goodman and his sons and his
folk, for Sir Mark the Blue Knight was well known to the said goodman.
In due time withal the Maiden was shown to a fair chamber well hung
and with a good bed therein, wherein she slept sweet without dreams.
So was the ending of that day better than the beginning. They took to
their road betimes on the morrow, and two of the goodman's sons and
three of his men rode with them, well armed; for though this was a
peopled part, yet whiles reivers rode therein. But on the way the Blue
Knight excused him to the Maiden for suffering this eking of his army,
and he said: "Seest thou, lady, were I with my two lads here, or even
were I riding birdalone, I would have bidden these five good fellows
abide at home; but I fear for thee, lest the fewness of our company
should draw on this rascaile to come within smiting distance, and then
who knows what might betide? For a chance stroke might do all the
scathe at once, and make me an unhappy man till the end of my days."

She smiled on him friendly and said: "Sir Knight, there is no need to
excuse thee; trust me I am nowise greedy of battle, and thank thee
heartily for thinking of me."

The Knight made as if he would have said something which would not
come forth out of his mouth, and he turned very red, and so rode, but
presently drew rein, and bade the others ride on and he would catch up
with them. So they went on, and the Maiden would have ridden on also,
but he said: "I beseech thee to abide with me, for I have a word or
two to say to thee before we get on with this day's journey." She
looked on him wonderingly, and was somewhat abashed, but turned to
hearken to him, and he said, not speaking very glibly: "Thou thankest
me for thinking of thee, but meseems I have nowise thought of thee
enough. I have told thee that we be riding to my house of Brookside,
but now I will ask thee if thou hast will to go thither?"

"Why not?" she said; "I deem not by thy looks and thy speech that thou
wilt be hard or cruel with me, or do me wrong in any wise, or suffer
others to do so."

"Nay, by Allhallows," said he; "but this I ask. Tell me right out if
thou hast any will to go back to thine old home in the Dale. I beseech
thee to tell me thy mind hereon; and if thou longest to go back, then
will we turn bridle at once and seek to the stead where thou wert born
and bred, and there will I say farewell to thee. For what! it may not
be for