t, thou must abide
here in Greenharbour--a long while, maybe; yea, even so long as my Lady
dwelleth here."

Christopher flushed and said: "Lord, thou art kind and gracious, and I
will take thy bidding."

The Earl said: "Well, so it shall be then; and presently thou shalt go
out of this guard-room a free man. But abide a while."

Therewith he drew a stool to him and sat down, and spake not for a long
while; and Christopher abode his pleasure; at last spake the Earl: "One
day, mayhappen, we may make a wedding for thee, and that no ill one."

Christopher laughed: "Lord," said he, "what lady will wed me, a no man's
son?"

Said the Earl: "Not if the Lord of Meadham be thy friend? Well then, how
if the Lady and Queen of Meadham make thee the wedding?"

Said Christopher: "I were liefer to make mine own wedding, whenso I
need a woman in my bed: I will compel no woman, nor ask others to compel
her."

The Earl rose up, and fell to pacing the prison to and fro; and at last
he stood over against Christopher, and said: "Hearken, forester: I will
foretell thy fortune; it is that thou shalt become great by wedding."

Christopher held his peace; and the Earl spake again: "Now is the
shortest word best. We deem thee both goodly and doughty, and would wed
thee to a great lady, even that one to whom thou hast shown kindness in
the wilderness."

Said Christopher: "It is the wont of great lords to mock poor folk,
therefore I must not show anger against thee."

"I mock thee not," said the Earl; "I mean nought, but as my words say."

"Nay then," said Christopher, "thou biddest me an evil deed, great Lord.
What I said was that I would compel no woman; and shall I compel her who
is the wonder of the world and my very own Lady?"

"Hold thy peace, sir fool," said the Earl; "let me tell thee that she
is as like to compel thee as thou her. And as to her being thy Lady, she
shall be thy Lady and wife indeed; but not here, for above all things
will she get her away from Greenharbour, and thou shalt be her champion,
to lead her about the world like a knight errant."

Now was Christopher so troubled that he knew not what countenance to
make, and scarce might he get a word out of his mouth a long while. At
last he said: "Lord, I see that I must needs do thy will if this be no
trap which thou hast set for me. But overwonderful it is, that a great
lady should be wedded to a gangrel churl."

The Earl laughed: "Many a ferly fares to the fai