t is a matter of course that all save our new-come knight knew
that it was not thou that sat there. And my Lord was well-pleased, and
now he hath taken her by the hand and led her into the Tower."

The Lady reddened and scowled, and said: "And he... did he come anigh
her?" "O yea," said Agatha, "whereas he stood before my Lord a good
while, and then kneeled to him to pray pardon for one of our men who
had done ill in the tilting: yea, he was nigh enough to her to touch
her had he dared, and to smell the fragrance of her raiment. And he
seemed to think it good to look out of the corners of his eyes at her;
though I do not say that she smiled on him." The Lady sprang up, her
cheeks burning, and walked about angrily a while, striving for words,
till at last she said: "When we come home to Utterbol, my lord will
see his new thrall again, and will care for Joyce no whit: then will I
have my will of her; and she shall learn, she, whether I am verily the
least of women at Utterbol! Ha! what sayest thou? Now why wilt thou
stand and smile on me?--Yea, I know what is in thy thought; and in very
sooth it is good that the dear youngling hath not seen this new thrall,
this Ursula. Forsooth, I tell thee that if I durst have her in my
hands I would have a true tale out of her as to why she weareth ever
that pair of beads about her neck."

"Now, our Lady," said Agatha, "thou art marring the fairness of thy
face again. I bid thee be at peace, for all shall be well, and other
than thou deemest. Tell me, then, didst thou get our Lord to swear
immunity for me?" Said the Lady: "Yea, he swore on the edge of the
sword that thou mightest say what thou wouldst, and neither he nor any
other should lay hand on thee."

"Good," said Agatha; "then will I go to him to-morrow morning, when
Joyce has gone from him. But now hold up thine heart, and keep close
for these two days that we shall yet abide in Tower Dale: and trust me
this very evening I shall begin to set tidings going that shall work
and grow, and shall one day rejoice thine heart."

So fell the talk betwixt them.

CHAPTER 38

A Friend Gives Ralph Warning

On the morrow Ralph wandered about the Dale where he would, and none
meddled with him. And as he walked east along the stream where the
valley began to narrow, he saw a man sitting on the bank fishing with
an angle, and when he drew near, the man turned about, and saw him.
Then he lays down his angling rod and r