"My cousin tells me that you are a knight of great
courage and renown, but he sayeth not aught of your disposition to
outrival him in heroics. Good-bye--a promise made is a promise broken;
therefore, I'll offer none. I meet you not to-night at the feast, having
obtained mine excuse."
Saying this, she bounded from him ere he was aware, and was speedily out
of sight.
He was not a little chagrined at her abrupt departure; yet her very
carelessness, and the open simplicity of her manner, only served to fix
her the more deeply in his thoughts. But a problem of greater difficulty
was to be resolved than how to fix the chameleon hue of woman's
thought. He had a king to pacify--wayward as a child, fickle as a lady's
favour. Unless he could acquit himself by some witty quibble or device,
he might bid adieu to the gaieties over which he presided. The time was
short, and his wit must needs be ambling. As he passed through the
court, revolving many plans for his deliverance, he was aware of a loud
dispute between the two household divinities we have before noticed.
Words were nigh being exchanged for blows, but they were stayed out of
respect to the intruder.
Pages:
521
522
523
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538
539
540
541
542
543
544
545