but so gently as not to rouse him.

After several hours, Sir Ivaine awoke. At first he hardly knew
where he was, but soon he recollected all that had happened, and
seeing his lady near, begged her to forgive him. This she did,
and they were reconciled. Sir Ivaine was sure that he would
never again forget to keep a promise.

For some months they lived very happily in the castle. Then they
went to Camelot in order to be near to Arthur and the Knights of
the Round Table.

[Illustration: The Holy Grail]

[Illustration] SIR BALIN

In Arthur's Court there dwelt a poor knight named Balin, who had
accidentally killed the cousin of King Arthur, and had been taken
to the court of the king for trial. He had lived there almost as
a prisoner for six months, until it was decided that he had not
meant to do wrong. All his money was gone, and his clothes and
armor were poor. He was sorry for this, but he was still more
sorry that he was not doing brave deeds like the other knights.

One day when he sat in the great hall at Camelot, looking at the
shields which were carved or covered with gold, a damsel entered
who wore a rich mantle, trimmed with fur. As Arthur and the
knights looked at her, she let it fall to the floor, and they saw
that she wore a heavy sword.

"Damsel," said Arthur, "why do you, a maiden, wear a sword?"

"Alas!" said the maiden, "I should be glad if I did not wear it.
It is very heavy, and causes me pain. But I am forced to wear it
until I meet a knight who can take it from me."

"Surely many knights could do that, and gladly," the lords said.

"No," said the lady. "It seems that there is but one knight in
all the world who is to take the sword. I heard that there were
brave knights at the Court of King Rience, the enemy of King
Arthur, and I went there. Yet no one could unfasten the sword.
Now am I come here on the same errand."

"In truth, damsel," said the king, "you are right welcome. My
knights shall try to take your weapon."

Then, at a sign from Arthur, a knight stepped forward. But, even
though he exerted all his strength, the sword could not be
unfastened.

"Sir, you need not pull so hard," said the damsel. "The one who
is to take the sword will do so easily."

All the knights tried except Sir Balin, who stood back because of
his poor clothes. Yet he wanted very much to see if he was the
chosen knight, and just as the damsel was going away, he said:

"Damsel, will you let me try