which is his own. But look
to it that thou be obedient to him, and take more heed of his honour
and his welfare than thine own welfare. Then shall I give thee what
honour thou art worthy of, and thou shalt find in me a well-willer."

So the Maiden knelt before her and kissed her hand, but the Lady
looked no more on her, but on her son. She was a tall and goodly woman
of some five and fifty winters; hawk-nosed and hawk-eyed, dark-haired,
and her hair waved as the coat-armour of the house. She spoke in no
very soft or kind voice, not even to her son, and the Maiden had
feared her that while, had it not been that even therewith her heart
turned toward the man she loved and whom she sought, and all these
that were round about her, even the valiant and generous Knight, had
become for the time to her but images that had no part in her life.

But now the tire-woman came to her and led her into a chamber apart,
and bathed her and clad her in fair raiment and led her back to the
hall, for so had the Blue Knight commanded.

As for the Carline, she was shown to a good place, and sat there
heedfully, and had ears for everything that was said and eyes for all
that was done. And she said to herself that they should not abide
there very long ere she would find out something of the way her bird
must follow if she were to have a happy life thenceforth.

But the next morning the Lady-mother took her son into a window of the
hall and fell to talking with him. And the Carline was not far off,
and heard a good part of all that they said: for she was fine-eared,
and had brought lore to bear upon the hearkening.

Now spake the Lady: "Well, son, so thou hast brought home a woman of
the husbandmen, a churl's daughter, to dwell with us. What wilt thou
do with her? Wilt thou wed her with priest and ring?" "Nay, mother,"
said Sir Mark; "but thou needest not call her of churl's blood. I wot
of these folk of the dales under the mountains, that they are both
proud and warrior-like, as if they were earls' kindred." "Is it so?"
said the Lady; "But she is neither of the baronage nor the knighthood.
I say, wilt thou wed her?" "I shall not," said Sir Mark, reddening and
knitting his brows. "What wilt thou do with her then?" said the Lady.
Said he: "She shall abide here in all honour and kindness so long as
she will." "Even such shall she have from me then," said the Lady,
"since it is thy will, so long as thy will is steadfast herein; but
when it cha