him aside, and seemed to think that he
would be fain were she to cast a word to him. And she herself was
grown of good cheer now, for she deemed herself delivered from
captivity; and, however it were, she trusted in this man's good faith
and kindness. So she asked him some simple question about the way, and
he started when he heard her voice, but turned and answered her
frankly, and seemed as if he had liked it better if he might have made
more of it. Then she said: "Fair sir, thou hast not yet told me
whither we be going."

"Nay," he said, "that is true, and heedless it was of me, and I pray
thee pardon me. We be boun for the Castle of Brookside, which is my
chiefest manor house, though no great things. But we shall not be
there tonight, nor for many nights. Now if thou ask me what we shall
find there, I shall tell thee that beside the serving-men and a few
men-at-arms and sergeants, and three squires, thou shalt find little
save my mother there, for I am unwedded as yet."

At that word the Maiden fell silent again, for she was wondering what
like would be the Knight's mother, and what days she was like to make
for her. But presently she set all that aside, and fell to ask the
Knight of other matters, such as the fashion of the country-side and
the ways of the folk round about his castle, and freely he answered to
everything; and so at last began to ask her concerning her land and
folk, and her way of life, and she told him of all freely. But no word
did she say to him of the man whom she loved; nay, when the talk
seemed drawing near to such a point that it seemed he must be told of
presently, she would break off and hold her peace straightway; neither
did the Knight say aught, nor ask her wherefore she went not on with
her tale, but let speech be till the spring thereof began to run again
of its own will.

Thus then they wore the day, riding through a fair country of
husbandry, not very thickly housed. None meddled with them, till at
sunset they came to a goodly grange walled and moated; and the Blue
Knight said: "If we take not harbour here we shall have to lie out in
the field, for we shall fall in with no other house till the night is
well deep." Therewith he rode up to the door and lighted down, and so
did they all; and there came forth a tall and somewhat goodly man of
some fifty winters and bade Welcome, Sir Mark! And without more ado
they entered the hall, which was fair and big and well-plenished.
There pr