gford, who was watching them, began to fear for the success of her
plan. However, there was no use turning back now. So, amidst jests of
all sorts in keeping with the spirit of Camelot and the Table Round, at
last _Brangaine_ rose and, taking the gold cup in front of her, said,

"I, _Brangaine_, commissioned by her Lady Mother, to conduct the _Lady
Isolt_ safely to _King Mark_, under the knightly protection of the _Lord
Tristram_, do now propose to drink their health, and ye must all do
likewise, Lords and Ladies of Arthur's court." And she sipped her own
glass, while she handed the gold cup to the Duke, who passed it on to
the pair; and Tristram, because all eyes were upon him, forced himself
to continue the jest. So he rose and, taking Zara's hand, while he bowed
to the company, gave her the cup to drink, and then took it himself,
while he drained the measure. And every one cried, amidst great
excitement, "The health and happiness of _Tristram_ and _Isolt_!"

Then, when the tumult had subsided a little, _Brangaine_ gave a
pretended shriek.

"Mercy me! I am undone!" she cried. "They have quaffed of the wrong cup!
That gold goblet contained a love-potion distilled from rare plants by
the Queen, and destined for the wedding wine of _Isolt_ and _King Mark_!
And now the _Lord Tristram_ and she have drunk it together, by
misadventure, and can never be parted more! Oh, misery me! What have I
done!"

And amidst shouts of delighted laughter led by the Crow--in frozen
silence, Tristram held his wife's hand.

But after a second, the breeding in them both, as on their wedding
evening before the waiters, again enabled them to continue the comedy;
and they, too, laughed, and, with the Duke's assistance, got through the
rest of dinner, until they all rose and went out, two and two, the men
leading their ladies by the hand, as they had come in.

And if the cup had indeed contained a potion distilled by the Irish
sorceress Queen, the two victims could not have felt more passionately
in love.

But Tristram's pride won the day for him, for this one time, and not by
a glance or a turn of his head did he let his bride see how wildly her
superlative attraction had kindled the fire in his blood. And when the
dancing began, he danced with every other lady first, and then went off
into the smoking-room, and only just returned in time to be made to lead
out his "_Isolt_" in a final quadrille--not a valse. No powers would
have made him