"
She was standing up by him now with her hand on his shoulder,
"Hear now the darling, the champion! how he trusteth well in his
heart and his right hand. But nay, I have cared for thee well.
Hearken, if thou wilt not take it amiss that I tell thee all I do,
good or evil. I said a word in the ear of Silverfax or ever
I departed, and now the good beast knows my mind, and will lead
the fierce lord a little astray, but not too much, lest he follow
us with his eager heart and be led by his own keen woodcraft.
Indeed, I left the horse behind to that end, else hadst thou
ridden the woodland ways with me, instead of my wearying thee
by our going afoot; and thou with thy weapons and wargear."
He looked upon her tenderly, and said smiling: "And thou, my dear,
art thou not a little wearied by what should weary a knight
and one bred afield?" "Nay," she said, "seest thou not how I walk
lightly clad, whereas I have left behind my mantle and cote-hardie?"
Thereat she gathered up her gown into her girdle ready for the way,
and smiled as she saw his eyes embrace the loveliness of her feet;
and she spake as she moved them daintily on the flowery grass:
"Sooth to say, Knight, I am no weakling dame, who cannot move her limbs
save in the dance, or to back the white palfrey and ride the meadows,
goshawk on wrist; I am both well-knit and light-foot as the Wood-wife
and Goddess of yore agone. Many a toil hath gone to that,
whereof I may tell thee presently; but now we were best on our way.
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