thee somewhat therein. So in a
few days thou shalt see whether I am worth something more than hard
words and beating. Only thou must promise in all wise to obey me,
though I be the thrall, and thou the Lady, and to leave all the whole
matter in my hands."

Quoth the Lady: "That is easy to promise; for what may I do by myself?"

Then Agatha fell pondering a while, and said thereafter: "First, thou
shalt get me speech with my Lord, and cause him to swear immunity to
me, whatsoever I shall say or do herein." Said the Lady: "Easy is
this. What more hast thou?"

Said Agatha: "It were better for thee not to go forth to see the
jousting; because thou art not to be trusted that thou show not thy
love openly when the youngling is in peril; and if thou put thy lord to
shame openly before the people, he must needs thwart thy will, and be
fierce and cruel, and then it will go hard with thy darling. So thou
shalt not go from the pavilion till the night is dark, and thou mayst
feign thyself sick meantime."

"Sick enough shall I be if I may not go forth to see how my love is
faring in his peril: this at least is hard to me; but so be it! At
least thou wilt come and tell me how he speedeth." "Oh yes," said
Agatha, "if thou must have it so; but fear thou not, he shall do well
enough."

Said the Lady: "Ah, but thou wottest how oft it goes with a chance
stroke, that the point pierceth where it should not; nay, where by
likelihood it could not."

"Nay," said Agatha, "what chance is there in this, when the youngling
knoweth the whole manner of the play, and his foemen know naught
thereof? It is as the chance betwixt Geoffrey the Minstrel and Black
Anselm, when they play at chess together, that Anselm must needs be
mated ere he hath time to think of his fourth move. I wot of these
matters, my Lady. Now, further, I would have thy leave to marshal thy
maids about the seat where thou shouldest be, and moreover there should
be someone in thy seat, even if I sat in it myself." Said the Lady:
"Yea, sit there if thou wilt."

"Woe's me!" said Agatha laughing, "why should I sit there? I am like
to thee, am I not?" "Yea," said the Lady, "as the swan is like to the
loon." "Yea, my Lady," said Agatha, "which is the swan and which the
loon? Well, well, fear not; I shall set Joyce in thy seat by my Lord's
leave; she is tall and fair, and forsooth somewhat like to thee." "Why
wilt thou do this?" quoth the Lady; "Why should thrall