She smiled thereat, and went straightway and fetched the very sameraiment, green gown and all, which she had brought to Goldilind in prisonthat other day, and in which Goldilind had fled from Greenharbour. Andwhen she had done them in the chest above all the other gear, she stoodyet beside the horses amidst of the varlets and squires who were gatheredthere to see the new-wedded folk depart.
Presently then came forth through the gate those two, hand in hand,and Earl Geoffrey with them. And he set Goldilind on her horse himself,and knelt before her to say farewell, and therewith was Christopher on hishorse, and him the Earl saluted debonairly.
But just as they were about shaking their reins to depart, Aloyse fell down on her knees before the Earl, who said: "What is toward, woman?"
"A grace, my Lord, a grace," said she.
"Stand up on thy feet," said the Earl, "and ye, my masters, draw out ofearshot."
Even so did they; and the Earl bade her speak, and she said: "Lord, myLady is going away from Greenharbour, and anon thou wilt be going, andI shall be left with the sleek she-devil yonder that thou hast set over us,and here there will be hell for me without escape, now that my Lady isgone. Wherefore I pray thee take me with thee to Meadhamstead, even ifit be to prison; for here I shall die the worst of deaths."
Earl Geoffrey smiled on her sourly, and said: "If it be as I understand,that thou hast lifted thine hand against my Lady, wert thou wending withme, thou shouldst go just so far as the first tree. Thou mayst deemthyself lucky if I leave thee behind here. Nor needest thou trouble theeconcerning Dame Elinor; little more shalt thou hear of her henceforward."
But Goldilind spake and said: "My Lord Earl, I would ask grace forthis one; for what she did to me she did compelled, and not of her free will,and I forgive it her. And moreover, this last time she suffered in her bodyfor the helping of me; so if thou mightest do her asking I were the betterpleased."
"It shall be as thou wilt, my Lady," said the Earl, "and I will have herwith me and keep her quiet in Meadhamstead; but, by Allhallows! had itnot been for thy word we would have had her whipped into the wild-wood,and hanged up on to a tree thereafter."
Then Aloyse knelt before Goldilind and kissed her feet, and wept, anddrew back pale and trembling. But Goldilind shook her rein once for allnow, and her apple-grey horse went forth with her; Christopher came after,leading the sumpter beast, and forth they went, and passed over the opengreen about the Castle, and came on to the woodland way wherebyGoldilind had fled that other time.