m all foul with the blood and dust and sweat of battle
and so I will be refreshed and made clean ere I appear before that most
fair lady your sister. So this night I will lie in the pavilion of this
Red Knight, there to be cleansed of my hurts and to be refreshed. Then
to-morrow I will come up unto my lady your sister."

[Sidenote: _Sir Gareth abideth in the pavilion of the Red Knight._]

And so it was done as Sir Gareth would have it, for that night he lay in
the pavilion of the Red Knight and he was bathed and refreshed, and a
skillful leech came and dressed his hurts. And the Red Knight of the Red
Lands had a guard of several knights set around about the pavilion so
that the repose of Sir Gareth should not be disturbed.

* * * * *

Now after that battle aforetold the damsel Lynette betook her way to the
castle of her sister, and she entered into the castle and there was
great rejoicing at her return. Then they who first met her said to her:
"Thy sister awaiteth thee and she is in that room in a turret where she
keeps her bower." And Lynette said, "I will go thither."

So she went to that place and there she found the Lady Layonnesse, and
her brother (who was Sir Gringamore) was with her. And Lynette ran to
her sister and embraced her and kissed her. And she said: "Save you, my
sister and give you joy that the champion whom I brought hither hath
freed you from your enemy."

The Lady Layonnesse said: "Where is that knight and why hast thou not
brought him hither with thee so that I may render to him my thanks?"

To this Lynette made reply: "Sister, he hath been sore wounded in his
fight and he is moreover so befouled with the blood and dust of battle
that he would not come hither at this present but lyeth in the pavilion
of the Red Knight until the morrow."

[Sidenote: _Lynette telleth her sister of Sir Gareth._]

Then the Lady Layonnesse said: "I pray you tell us who is this champion
who hath thus set me free from my oppressor?" and Lynette said: "That I
know not, only this I may tell you: that at the court of King Arthur
there would no knight undertake the adventure because I would not
declare your name and your degree before the King's court there
assembled. Then there arose a youth of whom Sir Kay made great scorn
and said that he was a kitchen knave hight Beaumains and the youth did
not deny that saying. And King Arthur gave him leave to go with me and
undertake this quest,