I did my best to reason with him, but in vain. At length, by sheer compulsion, he dragged me with him towards the park, reminding me of my vow, and bidding me, as I loved him, be his deputy in this matter. By a lucky fortune, as we approached the gate, who should ride up on her palfrey but our maiden herself. She was alone and without attendant. Ludar told me afterwards that such was her wont. Once he had offered his escort, and she had replied he might come if he could promise her merrier company than her own. "Whereat," said Ludar, "I stayed behind." She reined up as she saw us in the path before her, and a flush of surprise and pleasure sprang to her cheeks. How much may a man see in a moment! As she sat there, glowing with her rapid ride, and glancing from one to the other of us, I read a long history in her eyes. They were frank and fearless as ever; but as ever and anon they lit on Ludar, where he stood uneasy and blushing, they seemed to me to soften for a moment into a gentleness in which I had no share. If before I had only guessed my fate, something in her air made me sure of it now. And yet, had you seen her there, you would have said the maiden thinks no better of one of these lads than the other; nor does she think over much of either. "Humphrey, my friend," said she, "I am glad to see you, and in this brave company. Have you taken service under our Knight of the Rueful Countenance, or does he follow you?" "May it please you," said I, gallantly, "Sir Ludar and I know no service but yours." "I knew not that you knew one another," said she, ignoring my speech. "Have you been hunting the English Queen's deer again, Sir Knight?" "No, maiden," said Ludar, gravely. "But Humphrey here hath news for you if you will hear it." Thus put forward, I related as shortly as possible what I had overheard in the park. She listened calmly; but I could tell by the paling of her cheeks and the heaving of her bosom that my story was a shock to her. "If this be true," said she presently, "as I suppose it is, why stand we idly here?" "The Captain quitted the Hall at daybreak," said I. "I saw him go. To- night the letter should reach Sir William announcing his detention at Court, and committing you to the charge of this man Laker." "Before which time," said the maiden, resolutely, "I shall be far enough away, and with a better escort. What say you, Sir Ludar? When shall we set out?" So she had accepted our protection before ever we offered it! It would have done you good to mark the joyous smile on Ludar's face as he saw all his difficulties vanish at a word, and found that she took him after all for her champion. "In an hour's time," said he, "if it be not too speedy a making ready." "'Tis a long journey," said she. "Which way do we go? and are we to gallop from here to Ireland all the way with the enemy at our heels?" Then I spoke.