Something told him that his damsel should be amongst these,
so he gazed hard on them, but though they were goodly enough
there was none of them like to her.
As to the Queen, she was clad all in fine linen and gold, with gold
shoes on her feet: her arms came bare from out of the linen:
great they were, and the hands not small; but the arms round
and fair, and the hands shapely, and all very white and rosy:
her hair was as yellow as any that can be seen, and it was plenteous,
and shed all down about her. Her eyes were blue and set wide apart,
her nose a little snubbed, her mouth wide, full-lipped and smiling.
She was very tall, a full half-head taller than any of her women:
yea, as tall as a man who is above the middle height of men.
Now she came forward hastily with long strides, and knelt adown before
the Lord, but even as she kneeled looked round with a laughing face.
The Lord stooped down to her and took her by both hands, and raised
her up, and kissed her on the cheek (and he looked but little and
of no presence beside her:) and he said: "Hail to thee, my Lady;
thou art come far from thine home to meet me, and I thank thee therefor.
Is it well with our House?"
She spake seeming carelessly and loud; but her voice was somewhat husky:
"Yea, my Lord, all is well; few have done amiss, and the harvest
is plenteous." As she spake the Lord looked with knit brows at the damsels
behind her, as if he were seeking something; and the Lady followed his eyes,
smiling a little and flushing as if with merriment.
Pages:
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407