r myself. By swimming under the water I escaped, behind a jutting
rock, to a secret stair, whence I pushed my way into a chamber of the
castle. Therein was a damsel, busy with the linen, who, of her goodwill,
clad me in this wretched apparel above my own garb, and so, for that
time, saved my life, and I passed forth unknown; but yet hath caused me
to lose what I prize more highly than life--that is, the gracious
countenance of this gentle lady, thy friend and my master's daughter,
whom it is my honour and duty in all things to please and serve. Tell
me, then, do I merit your wrath as a jester and a mock-maker, or does
this gentle lady well to be angry with her servitor?"

The Maiden crossed herself, and murmured a prayer for the soul of him who
had died in the moat. But Elliot instantly flew to me, and, dragging off
my woman's cap, tore with her fair hands at the white linen smock about
my neck and waist, so that it was rent asunder and fell on the floor,
leaving me clad in my wet doublet and hose.

At this sight, without word spoken, she broke out into the merriest
laughter that ever I heard, and the most welcome; and the Maid too,
catching the malady of her mirth, laughed low and graciously, so that to
see and hear her was marvel.

"Begone!" cried Elliot--"begone, and shift thy dripping gear"; and, as I
fled swiftly to my chamber, I heard her laughter yet, though there came a
sob into it; but for the Maid, she had already stinted in her mirth ere I
left the room.

In this strange and unseemly fashion did I first come into the knowledge
of this admirable Maid--whom, alas! I was to see more often sad than
merry, and weeping rather than laughing, though, even in her utmost need,
her heart could be light and her mirth free: a manner that is uncommon
even among brave men, but, in women, never known by me save in her. For
it is the way of women to be very busy and seriously concerned about the
smallest things, whereat a man only smiles. But she, with her life at
stake, could pluck gaiety forth of danger, if the peril threatened none
but herself. These manners of hers I learned to know and marvel at in
the later days that came too soon; but now in my chamber, I shifted my
wet raiment for dry with a heart wondrous light. My craig {13} was in
peril, as we say, neither less nor more than half an hour agone, but I
had escaped the anger of Elliot; and even, as I deemed, had won more of
her good countenance, seeing that