ore her as she went out from that hall.

Then after she was gone Sir Gawaine came and stood before the King and
said: "Messire and Lord, I have faith that greater things shall come of
this adventure than any one hereabouts supposeth it possible to happen.
For Beaumains is no such kitchen knave as Sir Kay proclaimeth him to be,
but something very different from that, as Sir Kay himself shall mayhap
discover some day. For a year this Beaumains hath dwelt nigh me and I
have seen him do much that ye know not of. Now I pray you, Lord, to
suffer me to purvey him with armor fit for this undertaking and I
believe he will some time bring honor both to you and to me--to you
because you granted him this boon, to me because I provided him with
armor." Then King Arthur said to Sir Gawaine, "Messire, let it be as you
say."

[Sidenote: _Sir Gawaine armeth Beaumains._]

So Sir Gawaine took Beaumains away with him to his own lodging-place
and here he provided the youth with armor. And he provided him with a
shield and a sword and a good stout spear. And he provided him with a
fine horse, such as a knight who was to go errant might well care to
ride upon. Then when Beaumains was provided in all this way, Sir Gawaine
wished him God-speed and Beaumains took horse and departed after the
maiden Lynette. And Axatalese the dwarf rode with Beaumains upon a gray
mule, as his esquire.

Now by the time all this had been accomplished--to wit, the arming and
horsing of Beaumains--Lynette had gone so far upon her way that
Beaumains and Axatalese were compelled to ride for two leagues and more
at a very fast pace ere they could overtake her.

[Sidenote: _Lynette scorneth Beaumains._]

And when they did overtake her she was more angry than ever to behold
that misshapen dwarf accompanying the kitchen knave who was her
appointed champion. Wherefore when Beaumains had come nigh to her, she
cried out, "Sirrah, art thou Beaumains, the kitchen knave?" And Gareth
said, "Aye, I am he whom they call Beaumains." Then she cried out upon
him, "Return thee whence thou hast come for I will have none of thee!"

To this angry address Beaumains replied, speaking very mildly and with
great dignity: "Lady, the King hath appointed me to ride with you upon
this adventure, wherefore, with you, I must now do as I have been
commanded. For having embarked in this affair, I must needs give my
service to you, even if you should order me to do otherwise." "Well,"
quoth sh