face; see his broad forehead and honest eyes, and
beautiful hands. I believe he is of noble birth, and you should
treat him well."

"Perhaps he is a traitor," Sir Kay said. "Perhaps he will poison
King Arthur's food. Yet I believe he is too stupid to be a
traitor. If he were not stupid, or if he were noble, he would
have asked for a different gift. He would have asked for a horse
and armor. Let him go to my kitchen."

So Gareth went to the kitchen. And there he worked faithfully at
hard tasks, such as cutting wood and drawing water. Sir Lancelot
spoke to him kindly whenever he passed him, but Sir Kay was
always very strict and severe. Sometimes Gareth grew discouraged
and wished his mother had not exacted such a promise of him.

Whenever there was a tournament he was happy. He liked to watch
the horses prancing, and the brave knights riding, with the sun
shining on their helmets and lances. And he would say to himself:

"Only wait till the twelve months have passed, and then I shall
ask King Arthur to let me do some brave deed. Perhaps some one
will come to the hall and demand to have a wrong righted. Then I
will beg the king to let me do that act of justice."

Such thoughts kept him cheerful. And indeed, before many weeks,
his chance came for doing a great deed.

[Illustration] THE STORY OF SIR GARETH & LYNETTE

Gareth served in the kitchen of the king only one month, for his
mother became sorry for the promise she had asked of him, and
sent armor for him to Arthur's Court, with a letter to the king
telling who the youth was. With great joy Gareth then went to
Arthur and said:

"My lord, I can fight as well as my brother Gawain. At home we
have proved it. Then make me a knight,--in secret, for I do not
want the other knights to know my name. Make me a knight, and
give me permission to right the first wrong that we hear of."

The king said gravely:

"You know all that my knights must promise?"

"Yes, my lord Arthur. I am willing to promise all."

"I will make you my knight in secret, since you wish it," Arthur
said, "except that I must tell Sir Lancelot. He is my dearest
knight, and I keep no secrets from him."

Gareth said that he would be glad to have Sir Lancelot know.
Accordingly the king spoke to Sir Lancelot about Gareth.

"I have promised him that he may right the first wrong we hear
of," said Arthur, "but as he has not yet proved what he can do, I
want you to take a horse and follow h