will spare you. Nevertheless I command you that you
quit this place with all expedition that is possible."

[Sidenote: _The Lady Elaine chideth the Queen._]

So spake the angry Queen. But ever the Lady Elaine looked very proudly
upon her. And when the Queen had ended that speech she said: "Lady, it
shall be as you ordain, and to-morrow I shall be glad to depart from
this place, for it is a place of great unhappiness to me. But tell me
this, lady, ere I go: What would you say of one who took from another
who harmed her not, all the happiness and joy that that other had in her
life? And what would you say if that one who would so rob the other had
for herself a lord who was the most noble and the most worthy knight of
any in all of the world?"

At this speech the eyes of the Queen shone very wild like to the eyes of
a hawk. And first she strove to speak and could not, and then she did
speak, yet it was as though the words strangled her. And she said, "Go!
Leave me! You know not what you say!" and other than that she could not
say, but only strove to speak without any sound issuing out from her
throat.

Then the Lady Elaine turned with great dignity and went away leaving
those two alone together, and she neither turned her head nor paused at
any time in her going.

Then the Queen, turning to Sir Launcelot, said: "Messire, I lay this
command upon you, that though your lady shall depart, yet that you shall
remain here at this court until such time as I give you leave to depart
hence." Then she also turned and went away, and for a while Sir
Launcelot remained, standing alone like to a statue of stone.

[Sidenote: _The Lady Elaine quitteth the court._]

So the next day the Lady Elaine quitted the court of the King but Sir
Launcelot remained. And he said not to any one that the Queen had
commanded him to stay, for he would not betray her, so it was that all
who were of the King's court thought that he stayed of his own will.

But ere the court of the Lady Elaine departed from that place Sir
Lavaine, the brother of the Lady Elaine, came to Sir Launcelot and no
one was present but they two. And Sir Lavaine said to Sir Launcelot:
"Messire, do you not go hence with your lady?" and Sir Launcelot said:
"Nay, but maybe I shall follow her anon."

[Sidenote: _Sir Lavaine accuseth Sir Launcelot of treason._]

Then Sir Lavaine said: "Sir, see you not that your lady, my sister, is
in exceeding tender health?" and Sir Launcelot s