Theknightlaughedoutright，andsaid：“Yea，fairone，thisismuchliketothetaleofthecarleattheferrywiththefox，andthegoat，andthecabbage。”
　　Therewasscarceasmileonherfaceasshesaidgently：
　　“Onethingistobethoughtof，thatWalter’ssoulisnotyetsofastinhisbodythateitherthouorsomerough-handedleechmaybesureofhealinghim；itmustbethishand，andthelearningwhichithathlearnedwhichmustdealwithhimforawhile。
　　Andshestretchedoutherarmoverthewoundedman，withthefingerspointingdownthewater，andreddenedwithal，asifshefeltthehearts’greedinessofthetwomenwhowerelookingonherbeauty。
　　Thebigknightsighed，andsaid：“Well，unlessIamtokillhimoveragain，thereisnothingforitbutourabidingwithhimforthenextfewhoursatleast。To-morrowisanewday，andfairisthewoodland-hallofsummer-tide；neithershallwaterfailus。
　　Butastovictual，Iwotnotsavethatwehavenone。”
　　TheLadylaughed，andsaidtoRalph；“Whoknowethwhatthoumaystfindifthougototheblackhorseandlookintothesaddle-bagswhichIsawuponhimawhileagone？Forindeedweneedsomewhat，ifitwerebuttokeepthelifeinthebodyofthiswoundedman。”
　　Ralphsprangupandturnedtothehorse，andfoundthesaddle-bagsonhim，andtookfromthembreadandflesh，andaflaskofgoodwine，andbroughtthemtotheLady，wholaughedandsaid：“Thouartagoodseekerandnoillfinder。”Thenshegavethewoundedmantodrinkofthewine，sothathestirredsomewhat，andthecolourcameintohisfacealittle。
　　ThenshebadegatherstoreofbrackenforabedfortheBlackKnight，andRalphbestirredhimselftherein，buttheKnightoftheSunsatlookingattheLadyasshebusiedherselfwithhisfriend，andgloomseemedgatheringonhimagain。
　　Butwhenthebrackenwasenough，theLadymadeabeddeftlyandspeedily；
　　andbetweenthethreetheylaidthewoundedmanthereon，whoseemedcomingtohimselfsomewhat，andspakeafewwords，butthosenothingtothepoint。
　　ThentheLadytookhergayembroideredcloak，whichlayatthefootoftheoaktree，andcastitoverhimand，asRalphdeemed，eyedhimlovingly，andbeliketheKnightoftheSunthoughtinlikewise，forhescowleduponher；
　　andforawhilebutlittlewasthejoyancebytheancientoak，unlessitwerewiththeLady。
　　SupperandSlumberintheWoodlandHallCHAPTER24
　　Butwhenallwasdonetomakethewoundedknightaseasyasmightbe，theLadyturnedtotheothertwain，andsaidkindly：
　　“Now，lords，itweregoodtogettotable，sincehereiswherewithal。”
　　Andshelookedonthembothfullkindlyasshespakethewords，butnowisewantonly；evenastheladyofafairhousemightdobyhonouredguests。Sotheheartsofbothwerecheered，andnothingloththeysatdownbyheronthegrassandfelltomeat。
　　YetwastheKnightoftheSunalittlemoodyforawhile，butwhenhehadeatenanddrunkensomewhat，hesaid：
　　“Itwerewellifsomeonemightcomehereby，somehermitorholyman，towhomwemightgivethecareofWalter：
　　thenmightwehometoSunway，andsendfolkwithalittertofetchhimhomesoftlywhentheduetimewere。”
　　“Yea。”saidtheLady，“thatmighthappenforsooth，andperchanceitwill；
　　andifitwerebeforenightfallitwerebetter。”
　　Ralphsawthatasshespakeshetookholdofthetwofingersofherlefthandwithherrightforefinger，andletthethumbmeetit，sothatitmadeacircleaboutthem，andshespakesomethingtherewithinalowvoice，butheheededitlittle，saveashedidallwaysthatherbodymoved。AsfortheKnightoftheSun，hewaslookingdownonthegrassasoneponderingmatters，andnotedthisnot。
　　Buthesaidpresently：“WhathastthoutosayofWalternow？
　　Shallhelive？”“Yea。”shesaid，“maybeaslongaseitherofyoutwain。”
　　TheknightlookedhardatRalph，butsaidnothing，andRalphheedednothislooks，forhiseyeswerebusydevouringtheLady。
　　Sotheyabodealittle，andthemorepartofwhattalktherewascamefromtheLady，andshewaschieflyaskingRalphofhishomeinUpmeads，andhisbrethrenandkindred，andhetoldherallopenly，andhidnaught，whilehervoiceravishedhisverysoulfromhim，anditseemedstrangetohim，thatsuchanoneshouldholdhimintalkconcerningthesesimplemattersandfamiliarhaps，andlookonhimsokindlyandsimply。
　　Everandanonwouldshegoandlooktothewelfareofthewoundedman，andcomebackfromhimfortheysatalittlewayaloof，andtellthemhowhedid。AndstilltheKnightoftheSuntooklittleheed，andonceagaingloomsettleddownonhim。
　　Amidstallthisthesunwasset，andthelongwaterlaybeneaththeheavenslikeasheetofbright，fairhuedmetal，andnaughtstirredit：tillatlasttheLadyleanedforwardtoRalph，andtouchedhisshoulderforhewassittingoveragainsther，withhisbacktothewater，andshesaid：
　　“SirKnight，SirKnight，hiswishiscomingabout，Ibelieveverily。”
　　Heturnedhisheadtolookoverhisshoulder，and，asifbychance-hap，hischeekmettheoutstretchedhandshewaspointingwith：
　　shedrewitnotawayveryspeedily，andassweettohimwasthetouchofitasifhisfacehadbeenbrushedpastbyasummerlily。
　　“Nay，look！somethingcometh。”shecried；andhelookedandsawalittleboatmakingdownthewatertowardtheendanighthem。
　　ThentheKnightoftheSunseemedtoawakeatherword，andheleapttohisfeet，andstoodlookingatthenewcomer。
　　Itwasbutalittlewhileeretheboattouchedtheshore，andamansteppedoutofitontothegrassandmadeitfasttothebank，andthenstoodandlookedabouthimasifseekingsomething；andlo，itwasaholyman，ahermitinthehabitoftheBlackfriars。
　　ThentheKnightoftheSunhasteneddowntothestrandtomeethim，andwhenRalphwasthusleftalonewiththeLady，thoughitwerebutforalittle，hisheartbeatandhelongedsoretotouchherwithhishand，butdurstnot，anddidbuthopethatherhandwouldstrayhiswayasithade’ennow。
　　Butshearoseandstoodalittlewayfromhim，andspaketohimsweetlyofthefairnessoftheevening，andthewoundedman，andthegoodhapofthefriar’scomingbeforenightfall；
　　andhisheartwaswrungsorewiththeloveofher。
　　Socametheknightupfromthestrand，andtheholymanwithhim，whogreetedRalphandtheLadyandblessedthem，andsaid：
　　“Now，daughter，showmethysickman；forIamsomewhatofaleech，andthisthybaronwouldhavemehealhim，andIhavearightgoodwillthereto。”
　　SohewenttotheBlackKnight，andwhenhehadlookedtohishurts，heturnedtothemandsaid：“Haveyeperchanceanymeatinthewilderness？”
　　“Yea。”quoththeKnightoftheSun；“thereisenoughforadayormore，andifwemustneedsabideherelonger，Iorthisyoungmanmaywellmakeshifttoslaysomedeer，greatorlittle，foroursustenanceandthehealingofmyfriend。”
　　“Itiswell。”saidtheFriar；“myhermitageisnogreatwayhence，inthethicketattheendofthiswater。Butnowisthefeveronthisknight，andwemaynotmovehimeremorningatsoonest；
　　butto-morrowwemaymakeashifttobearhimhencebyboat：
　　or，ifnot，thenmayIgoandfetchfrommycellbreadandothermeat，andmilkofmygoats；andthusshallwedowelltillwemaybringhimtomycell，andthenshallyeleavehimthere；andafterwardsI
　　willleadhimhometoSunwaywherethoudwellest，baron，whenheiswellenoughhealed；or，ifhewillnotgothither，lethimgohisways，andImyselfwillcometoSunwayandlettheewotofhiswelfare。”
　　Theknightyeasaidallthis，andthereaftertheFriarandtheLadytogethertendedthewoundedknight，andgavehimwatertodrink，andwine。
　　AndmeanwhileRalphandtheKnightoftheSunlaydownonthegrassandwatchedtheevedarkening，andRalphmarvelledathishappiness，andwonderedwhatthemorrowwouldbringforth。
　　ButamidsthishappythoughtstheKnightoftheSunspaketohimandsaid：
　　“Youngknight，Ihavestruckabargainwithherthatthoushaltfollowushome，ifthouwilt：buttosaysooth，IthinkwhenthebargainwasstruckIwasmindedwhenIhadtheeatSunwaytocasttheeintomyprison。
　　ButnowIwilldootherwise，andifthoumustneedsfollowafterthineownperdition，asIhave，thoushaltdosofreely；thereforetakeagainthinearmourandweapons，anddowhatthouwiltwiththem。
　　Butifthouwiltdoaftermyrede，gettheeawayto-morrow，orbetter，to-night，anddesireourfellowshipnomore。”
　　Ralphheardhim，andtheheartwithinhimwasdivided。
　　Itwasinhismindtospeakdebonairelytotheknight；
　　butagainhefeltasifhehatedhim，andtheblythewordswouldnotcome，andheanswereddoggedly：
　　“IwillnotleavemyLadysinceshebiddethmegowithher。
　　Ifthouwiltthen，makethemostofitthatthouartstrongerthanI，andawarriormoreproven；setmebeforethysword，andfightwithmeandslayme。”
　　Thenrosethewrathtotheknight’slips，andhebrakeforth：“Thenisthereoneotherthingfortheetodo，andthatisthatthoutakethysword，whichIhavejustgivenbacktothee，andthrustherthroughtherewith。
　　Thatwerebetterfortheeandforme，andforhimwholiethyonder。”
　　Therewithhearoseandstrodeupanddowninthedusk，andRalphwonderedathim，yethatedhimnownotsomuch，sincehedeemedthattheLadywouldnotlovehim，andthathewasangeredthereby。
　　YetaboutRalph’shearttherehungacertainfearofwhatshouldbe。
　　Butpresentlytheknightcameandsatdownbyhimagain，andagainfelltospeechwithhim，andsaid：“ThouknowestthatImaynotslaythee，andyetthousayest，fightwithme；isthiswelldone？”
　　“Isitilldone？”saidRalph，“Iwotnotwhy。”
　　Theknightwassilentawhile，andthenhesaid：“WithwhatwordsshallIbeseechtheetodepartwhileitisyettime？
　　ItmaywellbethatindaystocomeIshallbegoodtothee，andhelpthee。”
　　ButRalphsaidneveraword。Thensaidtheknight，andsighedwithal：
　　“Inowseethisofthee，thatthoumaystnotdepart；well，soletitbe！”
　　andhesighedheavilyagain。ThenRalphstrovewithhimself，andsaidcourteously：“Sir，IamsorrythatIamaburdenirksometothee；andthat，whyIknownot，thoumaystnotridthyselfofmebythestronghand，andthatotherwisethoumaystnotberidofme。
　　Whatthenisthiswomantothee，thatthouwouldsthavemeslayher，andyetartsofierceinthyloveforher？”TheKnightoftheSunlaughedwrathfullythereat，andwasonthepointofansweringhim，whenupcamethosetwofromthewoundedman，andtheFriarsaid：
　　“Theknightshalldowell；butwellitisforhimthattheLadyofAbundancewashereforhishelping；forfromherhandsgoethallhealing，asitwaswiththeholymenofoldtime。
　　Maythesaintskeepherfromallharm；formeekandholyindeedsheis，asoftwehaveheardit。”
　　TheLadyputherhandonhisshoulder，asiftobidhimsilence，andthensetherselfdownonthegrassbesidetheKnightoftheSun，andfelltotalkingsweetlyandblithelytothethreemen。
　　TheFriaransweredherwithmanywords，andtoldherofthedeerandfowlofthewoodandthewaterthathewaswonttoseenightohishermitage；forofsuchthingssheaskedhim，andatlasthesaid：
　　“Goodsooth，IshouldbeshytosayinallplacesandbeforeallmenofallmydealingswithGod’screatureswhichliveaboutmethere。
　　Wotyewhat？E’ennowIhadnothoughtofcominghitherward；
　　butIwassittingamongstthetreesponderingmanythings，whenI
　　begantodrowse，anddrowsingIheardthethornbushesspeakingtomelikemen，andtheybademetakemyboatandgoupthewatertohelpamanwhowasinneed；andthatishowIcamehither；benedicite。”
　　Sohespake；buttheKnightoftheSundidbutputinawordhereandthere，andthatmostoftenasourandsnappishword。
　　AsforRalph，healsospakebutlittle，andstrayedsomewhatinhisanswers；forhecouldnotbutdeemthatshespakesoftlierandkindertohimthantotheothers；andhewasdreamywithloveanddesire，andscarceknewwhathewassaying。
　　Thustheyworeawaysometwohours，theFriarortheLadyturningawayatwhilestoheedthewoundedman，whowasnowtalkingwildlyinhisfever。
　　Butatlastthenightwasgrownasdarkasitwouldbe，sincecloudandstormcamenot，forthemoonhadsunkdown：
　　sotheLadysaid：“Now，lords，ourcandlehathgoneout，andIformypartwilltobed；soletuseachfindameetchamberinthewoodlandhall；andIwilllieneartothee，father，andthewoundedfriend，lestIbeneededtohelptheeinthenight；