At last she said:
"What is to do, then? or must I think of something for thee?"
"I know not, I know not," said the Lady between her sobs;
"yet if I might be in such case that he might pity me; belike it
might blind his eyes to the ill part of me. Yea," she said,
rising up and falling walking to and fro swiftly, "if he might
hurt me and wound me himself, and I so loving him."
Said Agatha coldly: "Yes, Lady, I am not wily for naught; and I both deem
that I know what is in thine heart, and that it is good for something;
and moreover that I may help thee somewhat therein. So in a few days thou
shalt see whether I am worth something more than hard words and beating.
Only thou must promise in all wise to obey me, though I be the thrall,
and thou the Lady, and to leave all the whole matter in my hands."
Quoth the Lady: "That is easy to promise; for what may I do by myself?"
Then Agatha fell pondering a while, and said thereafter:
"First, thou shalt get me speech with my Lord, and cause him
to swear immunity to me, whatsoever I shall say or do herein."
Said the Lady: "Easy is this. What more hast thou?"
Said Agatha: "It were better for thee not to go forth to see the jousting;
because thou art not to be trusted that thou show not thy love
openly when the youngling is in peril; and if thou put thy lord
to shame openly before the people, he must needs thwart thy will,
and be fierce and cruel, and then it will go hard with thy darling.
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