But if thou wilt do after my rede, get thee away to-morrow, or better,
to-night, and desire our fellowship no more."
Ralph heard him, and the heart within him was divided.
It was in his mind to speak debonnairely to the knight;
but again he felt as if he hated him, and the blythe
words would not come, and he answered doggedly:
"I will not leave my Lady since she biddeth me go with her.
If thou wilt then, make the most of it that thou art stronger
than I, and a warrior more proven; set me before thy sword,
and fight with me and slay me."
Then rose the wrath to the knight's lips, and he brake forth: "Then is
there one other thing for thee to do, and that is that thou take thy sword,
which I have just given back to thee, and thrust her through therewith.
That were better for thee and for me, and for him who lieth yonder."
Therewith he arose and strode up and down in the dusk, and Ralph
wondered at him, yet hated him now not so much, since he deemed
that the Lady would not love him, and that he was angered thereby.
Yet about Ralph's heart there hung a certain fear of what should be.
But presently the knight came and sat down by him again, and again
fell to speech with him, and said: "Thou knowest that I may not
slay thee, and yet thou sayest, fight with me; is this well done?"
"Is it ill done?" said Ralph, "I wot not why."
The knight was silent awhile, and then he said: "With what
words shall I beseech thee to depart while it is yet time?
It may well be that in days to come I shall be good to thee,
and help thee.
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