andthou，BaronofSunway，liethoubetwixtmeandthewood，towardmefromthewilddeerandthewood-wights。Butthou，SwainofUpmeads，wiltthoudeemithardtolieanearthehorses，towatchthemiftheybescaredbyaught？”
　　“Yea。”saidtheKnightoftheSun，“thouartLadyhereforsooth；
　　evenasmensayofthee，thatthouswayestmanandbeastinthewildwood。
　　Butthistimeatleastitisnotsoill-marshalledofthee：
　　Imyselfwouldhaveshownfolktochamberhereinlikewise。”
　　Therewithheroseup，andwalkedtoandfroforalittle，andthenwent，andsatdownonarootoftheoak-tree，claspinghiskneeswithhishands，butlaynotdownawhile。
　　ButtheLadymadeherselfabedofthebrackenwhichwasoverfromthosethatRalphhadgatheredforthebedofthewoundedKnight；
　　andtheFriarlaydownonthegrassnightoher，andbothwerepresentlyasleep。
　　ThenRalphgotupquietly；and，shamefacedlyforverylove，passedclosebesidethesleepingwomanashewenttohisplacebythehorses，takinghisweaponsandwargearwithhim：
　　andhesaidtohimselfashelaidhimdown，thatitwasgoodforhimtobequitealone，thathemightlieawakeandthinkathiseaseofallthelovelinessandkindnessofhisLady。
　　Howbeit，hewasayoungman，andasturdy，usedtolyingabroadinthefieldsorthewoods，anditwashiscustomtosleepatonceandsweetlywhenhelaydownaftertheday’sworkhadweariedhim，andevensohedidnow，andwastroubledbynodreamsofwhatwaspastortocome。
　　BOOKTWO
　　TheRoadUntoTroubleCHAPTER1
　　RalphMeetsWithLoveintheWildernessHewokeupwhileitwasyetnight，andknewthathehadbeenawakenedbyatouch；but，likeagoodhunterandwarrior，heforeboretostartuporcryouttillsleephadsomuchrunoffhimthathecouldtellsomewhatofwhatwastoward。
　　SonowhesawtheLadybendingoverhim，andshesaidinakindandverylowvoice：“Riseup，youngman，riseup，Ralph，andsaynoword，butcomewithmealittlewayintothewooderedawncome，forIhaveawordforthee。”
　　Sohestoodupandwasreadytogowithher，hisheartbeatinghardforjoyandwonder。“Nay。”shewhispered，“takethyswordandwar-gearlestillbefall：doonthinehauberk；Iwillbethysquire。”Andsheheldhiswar-coatoutforhimtodoon。
　　“Now。”shesaid，stillsoftly，“hidethycurlyhairwiththehelm，girdthyswordtothee，andcomewithoutaword。”
　　Evensohedid，andtherewithalfeltherhandtakehisforitwasdarkastheysteppedamidstthetrees，andsheledhimintotheSeventhHeaven，forheheardhervoice，thoughitwerebutawhisper，asitwereacaressandalaughofjoyineachword。
　　Sheledhimalongswiftly，fumblingnoughtwiththepathsbetwixtthepine-treeboles，whereitwasasdarkasdarkmightbe。
　　Everyminutehelookedtohearhersayawordofwhyshehadbroughthimthither，andthatthenshewoulddepartfromhim；soheprayedthatthesilenceandtheholdingofhishandmightlastalongwhile——
　　forhemightthinkofnaughtsaveher——andlongitlastedforsooth，andstillshespakenoword，thoughwhilesalittlesweetchuckle，asofthegardenwarblerathissoftest，camefromherlips，andtherippleofherraimentasherswiftfeetdraveit，soundedloudtohiseagerearsinthedark，windlesswood。
　　Atlast，anditwasmorethanhalf-an-houroftheirwalkingthus，itgrewlighter，andhecouldseetheshapeofheralongsideofhim；
　　andstillsheheldhishandandglidedonswifterandswifter，ashethought；
　　andsoonheknewthatoutsidethewooddawnwasgivingplacetoday，andeventhere，inthewood，itwasscarcedarkerthantwilight。
　　Yetalittlefurther，anditgrewlighterstill，andheheardthethrostlessingingalittlewayoff，andknewthattheywereontheedgeofthepine-wood，andstillherswiftfeetspedontilltheycametoalittlegrassywood-lawn，withnoughtanearitonthesideawayfromthewoodsavemaplesandthorn-bushes：
　　itwasbroaddaylightthere，thoughthesunhadnotyetarisen。
　　Theresheletfallhishandandturnedabouttohimandfacedhimflushedandeager，withhereyesexceedingbrightandherlipshalfopenandquivering。Hestoodbeholdingher，trembling，whatforeagerness，whatforfearofherwordswhenhehadtoldherofhisdesire。Forhehadnowmadeuphismindtodonoless。
　　Heputhishelmfromoffhisheadandlaiditdownonthegrass，andhenotedtherewiththatshehadcomeinhergreengownonly，andhadleftmantleandcotehardiebehind。
　　Nowhestoodupagainandwasjustgoingtospeak，whenlo！
　　sheputbothherpalmstoherface，andherbosomheaved，andhershoulderswereshakenwithsobs，andsheburstoutaweeping，sothatthetearsranthroughherfingers。
　　Thenhecasthimselfonthegroundbeforeher，andkissedherfeet，andclaspedherabouttheknees，andlaidhischeektoherraiment，andfawneduponher，andcriedoutmanyanidlewordoflove，andstillsheweptawhileandspakenot。
　　Atlastshereachedherhanddowntohisfaceandfondledit，andhelethislipslieonthehand，andshesuffereditawhile，andthentookhimbythearmandraisedhimupandledhimonswiftlyasbefore；andheknewnotwhattodoorsay，anddurstbynomeansstayher，andcouldframenowordtoaskherwherefore。
　　Sotheyspedacrossawastenotmuchbesetwithtrees，hesilent，sheneverwearyingorslackingherpaceorfalteringastotheway，tilltheycameintothethickwoodagain，andeverwhenhewouldhavespokenshehushedhim，with“Notyet！Notyet！”
　　Untilatlastwhenthesunhadbeenupforsomethreehours，sheledhimthroughahazelcopse，likeadeephedge，intoaclearedgrassyplacewhereweregreatgreystoneslyingabout，asifithadbeenthebrokendoom-ringofaforgottenfolk。
　　Thereshethrewherselfdownonthegrassandburiedherfaceamidsttheflowers，andwasweepingandsobbingagainandhebendingoverher，tillsheturnedtohimanddrewhimdowntoherandputherhandstohisface，andlaidhercheeksallwetwithtearstohis，andfelltokissinghimlongandsweetly，sothatinhisturnhewasliketoweepfortheverysweetnessoflove。
　　Thenatlastshespake：“Thisisthefirstword，thatnowI
　　havebroughttheeawayfromdeath；andsosweetitistomethatIcanscarcebearit。”
　　“Oh，sweettome。”hesaid，“forIhavewaitedfortheemanydays。”
　　Andhefelltokissingandclippingher，asonewhomightnotbesatisfied。
　　Atlastshedrewherselffromhimalittle，and，turningonhimafacesmilingwithlove，shesaid：“Forbearitalittle，tillwetalktogether。”
　　“Yea。”quothhe，“butmayIholdthinehandawhile？”“Noharminthat。”
　　shesaid，laughing，andshegavehimherhandandspake：
　　“IspakeitthatIhavebroughttheefromdeath，andthouhastaskedmenowordconcerningwhatandhow。”
　　“Iwillaskitnow，then。”saidhe，“sincethouwilthaveitso。”
　　Shesaid：“Dostthouthinkthathewouldhavelettheelive？”
　　“Who。”saidhe，“sincethoulettestmelive？”
　　“He，thyfoeman，theKnightoftheSun。”shesaid。
　　“Whydidstthounotfleefromhimbefore？Forhedidnotsomuchdesiretoslaythee，butthathewouldhavehadtheedepart；
　　butifthouwertonceathishouse，hewouldthrustaswordthroughthee，orattheleastcasttheeintohisprisonandlettheelietheretillthyyouthbegone——orsoitseemedtome。”
　　shesaid，falteringasshelookedonhim。
　　SaidRalph：“HowcouldIdepartwhenthouwertwithhim？
　　Didstthounotseemethere？Iwasdeemingthatthouwouldsthavemeabide。”
　　Shelookeduponhimwithsuchtenderlovethathemadeasifhewouldcasthimselfuponher；butsherefrainedhim，andsmiledandsaid：
　　“Ah，yes，Isawthee，andthoughtnotthatthouwouldstsunderthyselffromme；thereforehadIcareofthee。”Andshetouchedhischeekwithherotherhand；andhesighedandknithisbrowssomewhat，andsaid：
　　“Butwhoisthismanthatheshouldslayme？Andwhyishethytyrant，thatthoumustfleefromhim？”
　　Shelaughedandsaid：“Faircreature，heismyhusband。”
　　ThenRalphflushedred，andhisvisageclouded，andheopenedhismouthtospeak；butshestayedhimandsaid：
　　“Yetishenotsomuchmyhusbandbutthatoreverwewerebeddedhemustneedscursemeanddrivemeawayfromhishouse。”
　　Andshesmiled，butherfacereddenedsodeeplythathergreyeyeslookedstrangeandlighttherein。
　　ButRalphleaptup，andhalfdrewhissword，andcriedoutloud：
　　“WouldGodIhadslainhim！WhereforecouldInotslayhim？”
　　Andhestrodeupanddowntheswardbeforeherinhiswrath。
　　Butsheleanedforwardtohimandlaughedandsaid：
　　“Yet，OChampion，wewillnotgobacktohim，forheisstrongerthanthou，andhathvanquishedthee。
　　Thisisadesertplace，butthouartloud，andmaybeoverloud。
　　Comerestbyme。”
　　Sohecameandsatdownbyher，andtookherhandagainandkissedthewristtherofandfondleditandsaid：
　　“Yea，buthedesireththeesorely；thatwaseasytosee。
　　Itwasmyill-luckthatIslewhimnot。”
　　Shestrokedhisfaceagainandsaid：“LongwerethetaleifItoldtheeall。Afterhehaddrivenmeout，andIhadfledfromhim，hefellinwithmeagaindiverstimes，aswasliketobe；
　　forhisbrotheristheCaptainoftheDryTree；thetallmanwhomthouhastseenwithme：andeverytimethisbaronhathcomeonmehehasprayedmylove，asonewhowoulddiedespairedifIgranteditnot，butOmylovewiththebrightsword“
　　andshekissedhischeektherewith，andfondledhishandwithbothherhands，“eachtimeIsaidhimnay，Isaidhimnay。”
　　Andagainherfaceburnedwithblushes。
　　“Andhisbrother。”saidRalph，“thebigcaptainthatIhavecomeacrossthesefourtimes，dothhedesiretheealso？”
　　Shelaughedandsaid：“Butasothershave，nomore：
　　hewillnotslayanymanformysake。”
　　SaidRalph：“DidstthouwotthatIwasabidingthycomingattheCastleofAbundance？”“Yea。”shesaid，“haveInottoldtheethatIbadeRogerleadtheethither？”Thenshesaidsoftly：
　　“Thatwasafterthatfirsttimewemet；afterIhadriddenawayonthehorseofthatbutcherwhomthouslayedst。”
　　“Butwhycamestthousolate？”saidhe；“WouldstthouhavecomeifIhadabidedthereyet？”Shesaid：“WhatelsedidIdesirebuttobewiththee？ButIsetoutalonelookingnotforanyperil，sinceourridershadgonetothenorthagainstthemoftheBurg：
　　butasIdrewneartotheWateroftheOak，Ifellinwithmyhusbandandthatotherman；andthistimeallmynaysayswereofnoavail，andwhatsoeverImightsayheconstrainedmetogowiththem；
　　butstraightwaytheyfellouttogether，andfought，evenasthousawest。”
　　Andshelookedathimsweetly，andasfranklyasifhehadbeennaughtbutherdearestbrother。
　　Buthesaid：“Itwasconcerningtheethattheyfought：
　　hastthouknowntheBlackKnightforlong？”
　　“Yea。”shesaid，“Imaynothidethathehathlovedme：
　　buthehathalsobetrayedme。ItwasthroughhimthattheKnightoftheSundravemefromhim。Hearken，forthisconcerneththee：
　　hemadeataleofmeoftrueandfalsemingled，thatIwasawise-wifeandanenchantress，andmylordtrowedinhim，sothatIwasputtoshamebeforeallthehouse，anddrivenforthwrungwithanguish，barefootandbleeding。”
　　Helookedandsawpainandgriefinherface，asithadbeentheshadowofthatpasttime，andthefiercenessofloveinhimsochangedhisface，thatshearoseanddrewalittlewayfromhim，andstoodtheregazingathim。Buthealsoroseandkneltbeforeher，andreachedupforherhandsandtooktheminhisandsaid：
　　“Tellmetruly，andbeguilemenot；forIamayoungman，andwithoutguile，andIlovethee，andwouldhavetheeformyspeech-friend，whatwomansoevermaybeintheworld。