Beaumains, "I shall abide in
this field till I see him behind his shield."

"That is a fool's talk," she replied. "If you were a wise man, you
would fly."

"Why should I?" rejoined Beaumains. "If he be as noble a knight as you
say, he will meet me alone; not with all his men. And if there come but
one at a time I shall not fail to face them while life lasts."

"That is a proud boast for a greasy kitchen lout," she answered.

"Let him come and do his worst," said Beaumains. "I would rather fight
him five times over than endure your insults. You are greatly to blame
to treat me so vilely."

"Sir," she replied, with a sudden change of tone, "I marvel greatly who
you are, and of what kindred you come. This I will admit, that you have
performed as boldly as you have promised. But you and your horse have
had great labor, and I fear we have been too long on the road. The place
we seek is but seven miles away, and we have passed all points of peril
except this. I dread, therefore, that you may receive some hurt from
this strong knight that will unfit you for the task before you. For
Persant, strong as he is, is no match for the knight who besieges my
lady, and I would have you save your strength for the work you have
undertaken."

"Be that as it may," said Beaumains, "I have come so near the knight
that I cannot withdraw without shame. I hope, with God's aid, to become
his master within two hours, and then we can reach your lady's castle
before the day ends."

"Much I marvel," cried the damsel, "what manner of man you are. You must
be of noble blood, for no woman ever before treated a knight so
shamefully as I have you, and you have ever borne it courteously and
meekly. Such patience could never come but from gentle blood."

"A knight who cannot bear a woman's words had better doff his armor,"
answered Beaumains. "Do not think that I heeded not your words. But the
anger they gave me was the worse for my adversaries, and you only aided
to make me prove myself a man of worth and honor. If I had meat in
Arthur's kitchen, what odds? I could have had enough of it in many a
place. I did it but to prove who were worthy to be my friends, and that
I will in time make known. Whether I be a gentleman born or not, I have
done you a gentleman's service, and may do better before we part."

"That you have, fair Beaumains," she said. "I ask your forgiveness for
all I have said or done."

"I forgive you with all my heart," he repli