TheTalkofTwoWomenConcerningRalphButwhendinnerwasdone，cameDavidandamanwithhimbringingRalph’swargear，andbadehimdoiton，whilethefolkwerefencingthelists，whichtheyweredoingwithsuchstuffastheyhadattheTower；andtheLordhadbeencallingforOtterthathemightcommandhimwhatheshouldtelltothemarshalsofthelistsandhowallshouldbedulyordered，whereforehewentupuntotheTowerwhithertheLordhadnowgone。
　　SoRalphdidonhisarmour，whichwasnotrightmeetfortilting，beingoverlightforsuchwork；andhisshieldinespecialwasbutatargetforasergent，whichhehadbroughtatCheapingKnowe；buthedeemedthathisdeftnessandmuchuseshouldbearhimwellthrough。
　　Now，theLadyhadabidedinherpavilionwhenherLordwentabroad；
　　anonaftershesentallherwomenaway，saveonewhomsheloved，andtowhomshewaswonttotelltheinnermostofhermind；thoughforsoothshemishandledheratwhiles；forshewashotoftemper，andover-readywithherhandswhenshewasangry；thoughshewasnowisecruel。
　　Butthewomanaforesaid，whowasslyandsleek，andsomewhatpastherfirstyouth，tookbothhercaressesandherbuffetswithpatience，forthesakeofthegiftsandlargessewherewiththeywerebought。
　　Sonowshestoodbytheboardinthepavilionwithherheaddroopinghumbly，yetsmilingtoherselfandheedfulofwhatsomightbetide。
　　ButtheLadywalkedupanddownthepavilionhastily，asonemuchmoved。
　　Atlastshespakeasshewalkedandsaid：“Agatha，didstthouseehimwhenmyLordpointedhimout？”“Yea。”saidthewomanliftingherfacealittle。
　　“Andwhatseemedhetothee？”saidtheLady。“OmyLady。”
　　quothAgatha，“whatseemedhetothee？”Theladystoodandturnedandlookedather；shewasslenderanddarkandsleek；
　　andthoughherlipsmovednot，andhereyesdidnotchange，asmileseemedtostealoverherfacewhethershewouldornot。
　　TheLadystampedherfootandliftedherhandandcriedout。
　　“What！dostthoudeemthyselfmeetforhim？”
　　Andshecaughtherbythefoldsoverherbosom。ButAgathalookedupintoherfacewithasimplesmileasofachild：
　　“Dostthoudeemhimmeetforthee，myLady——heathrall，andthousogreat？”TheLadytookherhandfromher，butherfaceflamedwithangerandshestampedonthegroundagain：
　　“Whatdostthoumean？”shesaid；“amInotgreatenoughtohavewhatIwantwhenitliethclosetomyhand？”
　　Agathalookedonhersweetly，andsaidinasoftvoice：
　　“Stretchoutthinehandforitthen。”TheLadylookedathergrimly，andsaid：“Iunderstandthyjeer；thoumeanestthathewillnotbemovedbyme，hebeingsofair，andIbeingbutsomewhatfair。
　　Wiltthouhavemebeatthee？Nay，IwillsendtheetotheWhitePillarwhenwecomehometoUtterbol。”
　　Thewomansmiledagain，andsaid：“MyLady，whenthouhastsentmetotheWhitePillar，ortheRed，ortheBlack，mystripeswillnotmendthematterforthee，orquenchthefearofthineheartthatbythistime，sinceheisagrownman，helovethsomeother。Yetbelikehewillobeytheeifthoucommand，eventothelyinginthesamebedwiththee；forheisathrall。”
　　TheLadyhungherhead，butAgathawentoninhersweetclearvoice：
　　“TheLordwillthinklittleofit，andsaynothingofitunlessthouangerhimotherwise；orunless，indeed，hebemindedtopickaquarrelwiththee，andhathbaitedatrapwiththisstripling。
　　Butthatisallunlike：thouknowestwhy，andhowthatheloveththelittlefingerofthatnew-comethrallofhiswhomyeleftathomeatUtterbolinhisdespite，betterthanallthybody，forallthywhiteskinandlovelylimbs。Nay，nowIthinkofit，Ideemthathemeaneththisgifttomakeanoccasionforthestayingofanyquarrelwiththee，thathemaystopthymouthfromcryingoutathim——well，whatwiltthoudo？heisamightyLord。”
　　TheLadylookedupforshehadhungherheadatfirst，herfaceallredwithshame，yetsmiling，thoughruefully，andshesaid：
　　“Well，thouartdeterminedthatifthouartpunisheditshallnotbefornaught。Butthouknowestnotmymind。”
　　“Yea，Lady。”saidAgatha，smilingindespiteofherself，“thatmaywellbe。”
　　NowtheLadyturnedfromher，andwentandsatuponastoolthatwasthereby，andsaidnothingawhile；onlycoveringherfacewithherhandsandrockingherselftoandfro，whileAgathastoodlookingather。Atlastshesaid：
　　“Hearken，Agatha，Imusttelltheewhatliethinmineheart，thoughthouhastbeenunkindtomeandhasttriedtohurtmysoul。
　　Now，thouartself-willed，andhot-blooded，andnotunlovely，sothatthoumaysthavelovedandbeenlovederenow。
　　ButthouartsowilyandsubtlethatmayhappenthouwiltnotunderstandwhatImean，whenIsaythatloveofthisyoungmanhathsuddenlyenteredintomyheart，sothatIlongforhimmorethisminutethanIdidthelast，andthenextminuteshalllongstillmore。
　　AndIlongforhimtoloveme，andnotalonetopleasureme。”
　　“Mayhappenitwillsobetidewithoutanypushingthematter。”saidAgatha。
　　“Nay。”saidtheLady，“Nay；myhearttellsmethatitwillnotbeso；
　　forIhaveseenhim，thatheisofhigherkindthanwebe；asifhewereagodcomedowntous，whoifhemightnotcasthisloveuponagoddess，woulddisdaintoloveanearthlywoman，little-mindedandinwhomperfectionisnot。”Therewiththetearsbegantorunfromhereyes；
　　butAgathalookedonherwithasubtlesmileandsaid：“OmyLady！
　　andthouhastscarceseenhim！AndyetIwillnotsaybutthatI
　　understandthis。Butastothematterofagoddess，Iknownot。
　　Manywouldsaythatthousittingonthineivorychairinthygoldenraiment，withthyfairbosomandwhitearmsandyellowhair，wertnotilldonefortheimageofagoddess；andthisyoungmanmaywellthinksoofthee。
　　Howeverthatmaybe，thereissomethingelseIwillsaytothee；
　　andthouknowestthatIspeakthetruthtothee——mostoften——
　　thoughIbewily。Thisistheword，thatalthoughthouhasttimeandagaintreatedmelikethethrallIam，Ideemtheenoillwoman，butrathersomethingovergoodforUtterbolandthedarklordthereof。”
　　NowsattheLadyshakenwithsobs，andweepingwithoutstint；butshelookedupatthatwordandsaid：“Nay，nay，Agatha，itisnotso。
　　To-dayhaththisman’seyesbeenacandletome，thatImayseemyselftruly；andIknowthatthoughIamaqueenandnotuncomely，Iambutcoarseandlittle-minded。Irageinmyhouseholdwhenthewhimtakesme，andIamhot-headed，andmasterful，andslothful，andshouldbelikebeuntrueiftherewereanyforcetodrivemethereto。
　　AndIsuffermyhusbandtogoafterotherwomen，andthisnewthrallisespecial，sothatImaytakemypleasureunstayedwithothermenwhomIlovenotgreatly。Yes，Iamfoolish，andempty-headed，andunclean。
　　Andallthishewillseethroughmyqueenlystate，andmygoldengown，andmywhiteskinwithal。”
　　Agathalookedonhercuriously，butsmilingnomore。Atlastshesaid：
　　“Whatistodo，then？ormustIthinkofsomethingforthee？”
　　“Iknownot，Iknownot。”saidtheLadybetweenhersobs；
　　“yetifImightbeinsuchcasethathemightpityme；belikeitmightblindhiseyestotheillpartofme。Yea。”shesaid，risingupandfallingwalkingtoandfroswiftly，“ifhemighthurtmeandwoundmehimself，andIsolovinghim。”
　　SaidAgathacoldly：“Yes，Lady，Iamnotwilyfornaught；andIbothdeemthatIknowwhatisinthineheart，andthatitisgoodforsomething；
　　andmoreoverthatImayhelptheesomewhattherein。SoinafewdaysthoushaltseewhetherIamworthsomethingmorethanhardwordsandbeating。
　　Onlythoumustpromiseinallwisetoobeyme，thoughIbethethrall，andthoutheLady，andtoleaveallthewholematterinmyhands。”
　　QuoththeLady：“Thatiseasytopromise；forwhatmayIdobymyself？”
　　ThenAgathafellponderingawhile，andsaidthereafter：
　　“First，thoushaltgetmespeechwithmyLord，andcausehimtoswearimmunitytome，whatsoeverIshallsayordoherein。”
　　SaidtheLady：“Easyisthis。Whatmorehastthou？”
　　SaidAgatha：“Itwerebetterfortheenottogoforthtoseethejousting；
　　becausethouartnottobetrustedthatthoushownotthyloveopenlywhentheyounglingisinperil；andifthouputthylordtoshameopenlybeforethepeople，hemustneedsthwartthywill，andbefierceandcruel，andthenitwillgohardwiththydarling。
　　Sothoushaltnotgofromthepaviliontillthenightisdark，andthoumaystfeignthyselfsickmeantime。”
　　“SickenoughshallIbeifImaynotgoforthtoseehowmyloveisfaringinhisperil：thisatleastishardtome；butsobeit！
　　Atleastthouwiltcomeandtellmehowhespeedeth。”
　　“Ohyes。”saidAgatha，“ifthoumusthaveitso；butfearthounot，heshalldowellenough。”
　　SaidtheLady：“Ah，butthouwottesthowoftitgoeswithachancestroke，thatthepointpiercethwhereitshouldnot；nay，wherebylikeliheaditcouldnot。”
　　“Nay。”saidAgatha，“whatchanceisthereinthis，whentheyounglingknoweththewholemanneroftheplay，andhisfoemenknownaughtthereof？
　　ItisasthechancebetwixtGeoffreytheMinstrelandBlackAnselm，whentheyplayatchesstogether，thatAnselmmustneedsbematederehehathtimetothinkofhisfourthmove。Iwotofthesematters，myLady。Now，further，Iwouldhavethyleavetomarshalthymaidsabouttheseatwherethoushouldestbe，andmoreoverthereshouldbesomeoneinthyseat，evenifIsatinitmyself。”SaidtheLady：
　　“Yea，sitthereifthouwilt。”
　　“Woe’sme！”saidAgathalaughing，“whyshouldIsitthere？
　　Iamliketothee，amInot？”“Yea。”saidtheLady，“astheswanisliketotheloon。”“Yea，myLady。”saidAgatha，“whichistheswanandwhichtheloon？Well，well，fearnot；
　　IshallsetJoyceinthyseatbymyLord’sleave；
　　sheistallandfair，andforsoothsomewhatliketothee。”
　　“Whywiltthoudothis？”quoththeLady；“Whyshouldthrallssitinmyseat？”SaidAgatha：“O，thetaleislongtotell；
　　butIwouldconfusethatyoungman’smemoryoftheesomewhat，ifhiseyesfellontheeatallwhenyemete’ennow，whichistobedoubted。”
　　TheLadystartedupinsuddenwrath，andcriedout：
　　“Shehadbestnotbetooliketomethen，andstrivetodrawhiseyestoher，orIwillhavehermarkedfordiversitybetwixtus。
　　Takeheed，takeheed！”
　　Agathalookedsoftlyonherandsaid：“MyLady。Yefair-skinned，open-facedwomenshouldlooktoitnottoshowyourselvesangrybeforemen-folk。Foropenwrathmarrethyourbeautysorely。
　　Leavescowlsandfurytothedark-browed，whocanusethemwithoutwryingtheirfaceslikeathreemonths’babywiththecolic。
　　Nowthatismylastredeasnow。FormethinksIcanhearthetrumpetsblowingforthearrayingofthetourney。
　　WhereforeImustgotoseetomatters，whilethouhastbuttobequiet。
　　Andto-nightmakemuchofmyLord，andbidhimseemeto-morrow，andgiveheedtowhatIshallsaytohim。ButifImeethimwithout，now，asismostlike，Ishallbidhimintothee，thatthoumaysttellhimofJoyce，andhersittinginthyseat。
　　OtherwiseIwilltellhimassoonasheissetdowninhisplace。
　　Soothtosay，heislittleliketoquarrelwitheithertheeormeforsettingafairwomanotherthantheebyhisside。”
　　Therewithsheliftedthetentlapandwentout，steppingdaintily，andherslenderbodyswayinglikeawillowbranch，andcameatoncefacetofacewiththeLordofUtterbol，andbowedlowandhumblybeforehim，thoughherface，unseenofhim，smiledmockingly。TheLordlookedonhergreedily，andlethishandandarmgooverhershoulder，andaboutherside，andhedrewhertohim，andkissedher，andsaid：
　　“What，Agatha！andwhyartthounotbringingforththymistresstous？”
　　Sheraisedherfacetohim，andmurmuredsoftly，asoneafraid，butwithawheedlingsmileonherfaceandinhereyes：
　　“Nay，myLord，shewillabidewithinto-day，forsheisillatease；
　　ifyourgracegoethin，shewilltelltheewhatshewillhave。”
　　“Agatha。”quothhe，“Iwillhearher，andIwilldoherpleasureifthouaskmesotodo。”ThenAgathacastdownhereyes，andherspeechwassolowandsweetthatitwasasthecooingofadove，asshesaid：
　　“OmyLord，whatisthiswordofthine？”
　　Hekissedheragain，andsaid：“Well，well，butdostthouaskit？”
　　“Oyea，yea，myLord。”saidshe。