She said: "Maybe no wrong wittingly; since now, belike, thou artcome to tell me that all this weary sojourn is at an end, and that thou wilttake me to Meadhamstead, and set me on the throne there, and show myfather's daughter to all the people."
He held his peace, and his face grew dark before her while shewatched it. At last he spake in a harsh voice: "Lady," he said, "it maynot be; here in Greenharbour must thou abide, or in some other castle apartfrom the folk."
"Yea," she said, "now I see it is true, that which I foreboded when firstI came hither: thou wouldst slay me, that thou mayest sit safely in the seat of thy master's daughter; thou durst not send me a man with a sword tothrust me through, therefore thou hast cast me into prison amongst crueljailers, who have been bidden by thee to take my life slowly and withtorments. Hitherto I have withstood their malice and thine; but now am Iovercome, and since I know that I must die, I have now no fear, and this iswhy I am bold to tell thee this that I have spoken, though I wot now I shallbe presently slain. And now I tell thee I repent it, that I have asked graceof a graceless face."
Although she spake strong words, it was with a mild and steady voice.But the Earl was sore troubled, and he rose up and walked to and fro of thechamber, half drawing his sword and thrusting it back into the scabbardfrom time to time. At last he came back to her, and sat down before herand spake:
"Maiden, thou art somewhat in error. True it is that I would sit firmin my seat and rule the land of Meadham, as belike none other could.True it is also that I would have thee, the rightful heir, dwell apart from theturmoil for a while at least; for I would not have thy white hands thrust meuntimely from my place, or thy fair face held up as a banner by myfoemen. Yet nowise have I willed thy death or thine anguish; and if allbe true as thou sayest it, and thou art so lovely that I know not how todoubt it, tell me then what these have done with thee."
She said: "Sir, those friends to whom thou hast delivered me are myfoes, whether they were thy friends or not. Wilt thou compel me to tellthee all my shame? They have treated me as a thrall who had whiles toplay a queen's part in a show. To wit, thy chaplain whom thou hast givenme has looked on me with lustful eyes, and has bidden me buy of him easeand surcease of pain with my very body, and hath threatened me more evilelse, and kept his behest."
Then leapt up the Earl and cried out: "Hah! did he so? Then I tellthee his monk's hood shall not be stout enough to save his neck. Now,my child, thou speakest; tell me more, since my hair is whitening."
She said: "The sleek, smooth-spoken woman to whom thou gavestme, didst thou bid her to torment me with stripes, and the dungeon, andthe dark, and solitude, and hunger?"
"Nay, by Allhallows!" he said, "nor thought of it; trust me she shallpay therefor if so she hath done."
She said: "I crave no vengeance, but mercy I crave, and thou maystgive it me."
Then were they both silent, till he said: "Now I, for my part, willpray thee bear what thou must bear, which shall be nought save this, thatthy queenship lie quiet for a while; nought else of evil shall betide theehenceforth; but as much of pleasure and joy as may go with it. But tellme, there is a story of thy snatching a holiday these two days, and of ayoung man whom thou didst happen on. Tell me now, not as a maiden toher father or warder, but as a great lady might tell a great lord, what betidbetwixt you two: for thou art not one on whom a young and doughtyman may look unmoved. By Allhallows! but thou art a firebrand, myLady!" And he laughed therewith.