She answered not, but still wept somewhat; then said the Earl: "Lady,give me leave, and I shall send thy women to thee, and sit in the great hallfor an hour, and if within that while thou send a woman of thine to say oneword, Yes, unto me, then is all well. But if not, then do I depart fromGreenharbour straightway, and take the youngling with me to hang him upon the first tree. Be wise, I pray thee."
And therewith he went his ways. But Goldilind, being left alone alittle, rose up and paced the chamber to and fro, and her tears and sobbingceased; and a great and strange joy grew up in her heart, mingled with thepain of longing, so that she might rest in nowise. Even therewith thedoor opened, and her women entered, Aloyse first, and she called to her atonce, and bade her to find Earl Geoffrey in the great hall, and say to him:Yes. So Aloyse went her ways, and Goldilind bade her other women toarray her in the best and goodliest wise that they might. And the day wasyet somewhat young. Now it must besaid of Earl Geoffrey that, in spite ofhis hard word, he had it not in his heart either to slay Christopher or toleave Goldilind at Greenharbour to the mercy of Dame Elinor.