face was smiling like to a beautiful
mask. And ever she gazed very steadily at the Lady Elaine, beholding how
that the countenance of that lady was exceedingly beautiful and very
noble and gentle. And as the Queen gazed thus upon the Lady Elaine she
hated her with great bitterness, yet ever she hid that hatred beneath a
smiling countenance.

That day there was great feasting and rejoicing at the court of the King
because of the return of Sir Launcelot and Sir Ewaine and Sir Percival
and Sir Ector. And ever the Lady Guinevere took part in that rejoicing,
albeit her heart was full of great bitterness and of a sort of despair.

* * * * *

[Sidenote: _The Queen withdraweth the Lady Elaine from Sir Launcelot._]

Now the next day after that day, the Lady Guinevere sent for the Lady
Elaine to come to her, and when she was come the Queen said to her:
"Lady, I have it in mind to do thee a singular honor that I would bestow
upon thee, and this is that thou shouldst be in personal attendance upon
me. To this end I have purveyed thee a room next to mine own chamber in
mine own part of this castle, and there thou and thy attendants may
lodge so that ye shall ever be near to my person. And ever thou shalt be
in close attendance upon me and never shalt thou be parted from me for
all the time that thou remainest at this place."

Thus spake the Lady Guinevere, for so, under the mask of friendliness
and pretence of doing honor to the Lady Elaine, she purposed to separate
Sir Launcelot from his lady and after that to keep them separate from
one another. This she did, though why she should do it she could not
rightly tell even to her own heart.

* * * * *

So it was that Sir Launcelot returned to the court of the King; so it
was that they were received at Camelot, and so it was that the Lady
Elaine the Fair was separated from Sir Launcelot as I have recounted
above.

[Illustration]

Conclusion

Now at this time the Lady Elaine was in very tender health, wherefore,
after a day or two or three, she began to repine at being thus separated
from Sir Launcelot as aforesaid; wherefore it befell that she grew
lonely in that strange place and wept a great deal and ate little and
slept little.

Now there was at this time with the Lady Elaine that Lady hight Dame
Brysen before spoken of--she who went with the Lady Elaine to Sir
Launcelot when he lay so nigh to death i