u didst not come to see me in my
distress. That was wrong in thee." "Truly," said Luned, "I thought thy
good sense was greater than I find it to be. Is it well for thee to
mourn after that good man, or for anything else, that thou canst not
have?" "I declare to heaven," said the Countess, "that in the whole
world there is not a man equal to him." "Not so," said Luned, "for an
ugly man would be as good as, or better than he." {31} "I declare to
heaven," said the Countess, "that were it not repugnant to me to cause to
be put to death one whom I have brought up, I would have thee executed,
for making such a comparison to me. As it is, I will banish thee." "I
am glad," said Luned, "that thou hast no other cause to do so, than that
I would have been of service to thee when thou didst not know what was to
thine advantage. And henceforth evil betide whichever of us shall make
the first advance towards reconciliation to the other; whether I should
seek an invitation from thee, or thou of thine own accord shouldest seek
to invite me."

With that Luned went forth; and the Countess arose and followed her to
the door of the chamber, and began coughing loudly. And when Luned
looked back, the Countess beckoned to her; and she returned to the
Countess. "In truth," said the Countess, "evil is thy disposition; but
if thou knowest what is to my advantage, declare it to me." "I will do
so," quoth she.

"Thou knowest that except by warfare and arms it is impossible for thee
to preserve thy possessions; delay not, therefore, to seek some one who
can defend them." "And how can I do that?" said the Countess. "I will
tell thee," said Luned, "unless thou canst defend the fountain, thou
canst not maintain thy dominions; and no one can defend the fountain,
except it be a knight of Arthur's household; and I will go to Arthur's
court, and ill betide me, if I return thence without a warrior who can
guard the fountain, as well as, or even better than, he who defended it
formerly." "That will be hard to perform," said the Countess. "Go,
however, and make proof of that which thou hast promised."

Luned set out, under the pretence of going to Arthur's court; but she
went back to the chamber where she had left Owain; and she tarried there
with him as long as it might have taken her to have travelled to the
Court of King Arthur. And at the end of that time, she apparelled
herself, and went to visit the Countess. And the Countess was mu