Supper was indeed commencing. Some scheme or witty device must be hit
upon,--speedily too, or the king's displeasure might be difficult to
assuage.
"But for thy bright eyes and fair speech, my lady Grace, I had not been
amissing from my duty." He looked thoughtful, and it was the maiden's
turn to rally.
They ascended the hill by a short but steep path. As they approached the
summit, he seemed to awake from a deep reverie.
"Now have you granted me an audience for a lover's sake--to-morrow, let
me be the ambassador for another."
"I have no lovers from whom I would care to be honoured with an
embassy!"
"None?" said the knight, peering curiously, as if he would penetrate the
folds of a real Flanders scarf she had thrown carelessly about her
head--
"'Then will I be thy lover true,
And thou my beauteous queene,'
"through these gay festivities. But mark me!"--He became serious on the
sudden. The expression of his eye, from its general character of assumed
gaiety, was changed into that of tenderness and respect. "Mark me, lady,
I would be spared the horror of a rival. Will you be my partner in these
pageantries--my mistress unto whom I may render mine homage and my
trust?"
"'Tis a brave speech, Sir John," cried the lady, as though wishful to
divert the subject.
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