eremony of the
morning, and as he advanced to meet them, the Lady Anne came frankly
forward, and gave him her hand, which Myles raised to his lips.

"I give thee joy of thy knighthood, Sir Myles," said she, "and do
believe, in good sooth, that if any one deserveth such an honor, thou
art he."

At first little Lady Alice hung back behind her cousin, saying nothing
until the Lady Anne, turning suddenly, said: "Come, coz, has thou naught
to say to our new-made knight? Canst thou not also wish him joy of his
knighthood?"

Lady Alice hesitated a minute, then gave Myles a timid hand, which he,
with a strange mixture of joy and confusion, took as timidly as it was
offered. He raised the hand, and set it lightly and for an instant
to his lips, as he had done with the Lady Anne's hand, but with very
different emotions.

"I give you joy of your knighthood, sir," said Lady Alice, in a voice so
low that Myles could hardly hear it.

Both flushed red, and as he raised his head again, Myles saw that the
Lady Anne had withdrawn to one side. Then he knew that it was to give
him the opportunity to proffer his request.

A little space of silence followed, the while he strove to key his
courage to the saying of that which lay at his mind. "Lady," said he at
last, and then again--"Lady, I--have a favor for to ask thee."

"What is it thou wouldst have, Sir Myles?" she murmured, in reply.

"Lady," said he, "ever sin I first saw thee I have thought that if I
might choose of all the world, thou only wouldst I choose for--for
my true lady, to serve as a right knight should." Here he stopped,
frightened at his own boldness. Lady Alice stood quite still, with her
face turned away. "Thou--thou art not angered at what I say?" he said.

She shook her head.

"I have longed and longed for the time," said he, "to ask a boon of thee,
and now hath that time come. Lady, to-morrow I go to meet a right good
knight, and one skilled in arms and in jousting, as thou dost know. Yea,
he is famous in arms, and I be nobody. Ne'theless, I fight for the honor
of England and Mackworth--and--and for thy sake. I--Thou art not angered
at what I say?"

Again the Lady Alice shook her head.

"I would that thou--I would that thou would give me some favor for to
wear--thy veil or thy necklace."

He waited anxiously for a little while, but Lady Alice did not answer
immediately.

"I fear me," said Myles, presently, "that I have in sooth offended thee
in askin