"
The knight looked hard at Ralph, but said nothing, and Ralph heeded
not his looks, for his eyes were busy devouring the Lady.
So they abode a little, and the more part of what talk there was came
from the Lady, and she was chiefly asking Ralph of his home in Upmeads,
and his brethren and kindred, and he told her all openly, and hid naught,
while her voice ravished his very soul from him, and it seemed strange
to him, that such an one should hold him in talk concerning these simple
matters and familiar haps, and look on him so kindly and simply.
Ever and anon would she go and look to the welfare of the wounded man,
and come back from him (for they sat a little way aloof), and tell
them how he did. And still the Knight of the Sun took little heed,
and once again gloom settled down on him.
Amidst all this the sun was set, and the long water lay beneath the heavens
like a sheet of bright, fair-hued metal, and naught stirred it: till at
last the Lady leaned forward to Ralph, and touched his shoulder (for he was
sitting over against her, with his back to the water), and she said:
"Sir Knight, Sir Knight, his wish is coming about, I believe verily."
He turned his head to look over his shoulder, and, as if by chance-hap,
his cheek met the outstretched hand she was pointing with:
she drew it not away very speedily, and as sweet to him was the touch
of it as if his face had been brushed past by a summer lily.
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