t, and have my head cut off. For I
cannot well ask the Virgin Mary to help me make good _my_ brag. 'Tis
an enterprise of a sort wherein 'twould be indiscreet to crave the
interference of Her who is the _Lily of Purity_, the _Tower of Ivory_,
the _Guarded Door_ and the _Fenced Orchard-Close_. And, lacking aid from
on high, I am sore afraid I may not do so much as I have said."

Thus ran Olivier's thoughts, when King Hugo roughly accosted him with
the words:

"'T is now your turn, Count, to fulfil your promise."

"Sire," replied Olivier, "I am waiting with great impatience for the
Princess your daughter. For you must needs do me the priceless grace of
giving me her hand."

"That is but fair," said King Hugo. "I will therefore bid her come to
you and a chaplain with her for to celebrate the marriage."

At church, during the ceremony, Olivier reflected:

"The maid is sweet and comely as ever a man could desire, and too fain
am I to clip her in my arms to regret the brag I have made."

That evening, after supper, the Princess Helen and the Count Olivier
were escorted by twelve ladies and twelve knights to a chamber, wherein
the twain were left alone together.

There they passed the night, and on the morrow guards came and led them
both before King Hugo. He was on his throne, surrounded by his knights.
Near by stood Charlemagne and the peers.

"Well, Count Olivier," demanded the King, "is your brag made good?"

Olivier held his peace, and already was King Hugo rejoiced at heart
to think his new son-in-law's head must fall. For of all the brags and
boasts, it was Olivier's had angered him worst.

"Answer," he stormed. "Do you dare to tell me your brag is
accomplished?"

Thereupon the Princess Helen, blushing and smiling, spake with eyes
downcast and in a faint voice, yet clear withal, and said,--"Yea!"

Right glad were Charlemagne and the peers to hear the Princess say this
word.

"Well, well," said Hugo, "these Frenchmen have God and the Devil
o' their side. It was fated I should cut off none of these knights'
heads.... Come hither, son-in-law,"--and he stretched forth his hand to
Olivier, who kissed it.

The Emperor Charlemagne embraced the Princess and said to her:

"Helen, I hold you for my daughter and my son's wife. You will go along
with us to France, and you will live at our Court."

Then, as his lips lay on the Princess's cheek, he rounded softly in her
ear:

"You spake as a loving-hearted woman