o that place where
he was.

Then the Lady Elaine came close to Sir Launcelot and looked very deeply
into his eyes, and by and by she said, "Launcelot, what ails thee?" He
said, "My brother hath been talking to me concerning certain matters."
She said, "What was it he said to thee?" And Sir Launcelot replied, "I
will not tell thee."

[Sidenote: _The Lady Elaine bespeaketh Sir Launcelot._]

Then the Lady Elaine smiled into Sir Launcelot's face and she said: "It
needs not that thou shouldst tell me what thy brother said, for I can
guess very well what it was." Then she took Sir Launcelot's head into
her embrace and she said, "Launcelot! Launcelot!" and he said, "Elaine!
Elaine!" And the Lady Elaine said: "Alas, love, thou must return with
these good knights unto the court of the King, for it is thy duty to do
so. After that thou mayst return hither, and I pray God that thy staying
away from this place may not be for very long."

Then Sir Launcelot said: "Elaine, I will not go away from this place
unless it be that thou also goest with me. Wherefore, if thou wilt have
me go to King Arthur's court, then go thou along with me. Otherwise, if
thou wilt not do that, then I will disobey the Queen's commands and will
stay forever here with thee."

Then the Lady Elaine smiled again though somewhat sadly and she said:
"Ah, Launcelot, I am sorry for thee and for thy doubts. But as thou
wilt have it so, so let it be and I will go with thee to the court of
the King." Therewith she kissed Sir Launcelot upon the face and he
kissed her as with a great passion.

[Sidenote: _They all depart from Joyous Isle._]

So three days after that time all they departed from Joyous Isle--to
wit, Sir Launcelot and Sir Percival and Sir Ector and the Lady
Elaine--and in the court who went along with them there also travelled
Sir Lavaine, the Lady Elaine's brother, who had aforetime been Sir
Launcelot's companion at arms in that tournament at Astolat as aforetold
of. These with their courts of esquires and ladies and demoiselles
wended their way from that place with great state of departure and with
all the pomp and circumstance that befitted the high estate of those who
travelled.

* * * * *

So it was that Sir Launcelot was found, and now if you will read this
history further you shall hear of a very pleasant adventure that befell
them upon their way to the castle of King Arthur and of how Sir Ewaine
and the Lad