But the Lord was silent a while, and then let his brow clear and said:
"Yea, Lady, thou art thanked for coming to meet us; and timely
is thy coming, since there is game and glee for thee at hand;
I have cheapened a likely thrall of Morfinn the Unmanned,
and he is a gift to thee; and he hath given out that he is no ill
player with the spear after the fashion of them of the west;
and we are going to prove his word here in this meadow presently."
The Lady's face grew glad, and she said, looking toward
the ring of new comers: "Yea, Lord, and which of these is he,
if he be here?"
The Lord turned a little to point out Ralph, but even therewith the Lady's
eyes met Ralph's, who reddened for shame of being so shown to a great lady;
but as for her she flushed bright red all over her face and even to her bosom,
and trouble came into her eyes, and she looked adown. But the Lord said:
"Yonder is the youngling, the swordless one in the green coat; a likely lad,
if he hath not lied about his prowess; and he can sing thee a song withal,
and tell a piteous tale of old, and do all that those who be reared in
the lineages of the westlands deem meet and due for men of knightly blood.
Dost thou like the looks of him, lady! wilt thou have him?"
The Lady still held her head down, and tormented the grass with her foot,
and murmured somewhat; for she could not come to herself again as yet.
So the Lord looked sharply on her and said: "Well, when this tilting is over,
thou shalt tell me thy mind of him; for if he turn out a dastard I would
not ask thee to take him.
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