however, to the beautiful
Elaine.

"In truth, this fair maiden is fit to be a queen."

Then Elaine lifted her eyes and looked at him. He was twice as
old as she was. His face was cut and scarred with wounds which he
had received in battle, but as she looked at him, she loved him,
and felt that she would continue to love him till the day of her
death.

They went into the great hall where a supper was laid. Sir
Lancelot talked of King Arthur and his goodness and all his
glorious deeds. Elaine thought that even Arthur could not be so
brave as this wonderful lord. All night long she dreamed of him.
In the morning she rose early and went down in the courtyard
where Sir Lancelot and Sir Lavaine were mounting their horses.

"Fair lord," she said boldly to Sir Lancelot, "will you wear my
token in your helmet?"

Then said Sir Lancelot:

"Fair maiden, I have never worn favor nor token for any lady in
the tournaments. This is well known to be my custom."

"But if you wear my token," she said, "there will be far less
likelihood of your being known by your fellow knights."

"That is very true, my child," he said. "Bring it to me. What is
it?"

She held it out to him; it was a red sleeve embroidered with
pearls. Sir Lancelot bound it in his helmet and said:

"I have never done so much before for any maiden."

[Illustration: _"She staid near it all day long in the turret"_]

Then he and Sir Lavaine bade Elaine farewell, and the beautiful
maiden ran up to the tower of the castle and watched them from
the window for a long time. When they were out of sight she asked
the old dumb servant to carry Sir Lancelot's shield to the tower.
It was a large shield of silver, with three lions emblazoned upon
it in gold and blue, but its polished surface was covered with
dents and scratches. Elaine knelt before it, and made a story for
each scratch and mark, picturing to herself the contests in which
the good shield had taken part. For many weeks she stayed near it
all day long in the turret, watching for Sir Lancelot and her
brother to return.

Meanwhile those two had ridden lightly to Camelot, and when they
were almost there, Sir Lancelot told Sir Lavaine his name. The
young man was astonished. He was very happy, too, to think that
he was a companion to the great knight of whom he had heard so
often.

When Sir Lancelot and Sir Lavaine arrived at the field where the
tournament was to be held, they stood looking at the king, who