Theknightlaughedoutright，andsaid：“Yea，fairone，thisismuchliketothetaleofthecarleattheferrywiththefox，andthegoat，andthecabbage。”
Therewasscarceasmileonherfaceasshesaidgently：
“Onethingistobethoughtof，thatWalter’ssoulisnotyetsofastinhisbodythateitherthouorsomerough-handedleechmaybesureofhealinghim；itmustbethishand，andthelearningwhichithathlearnedwhichmustdealwithhimforawhile。
Andshestretchedoutherarmoverthewoundedman，withthefingerspointingdownthewater，andreddenedwithal，asifshefeltthehearts’greedinessofthetwomenwhowerelookingonherbeauty。
Thebigknightsighed，andsaid：“Well，unlessIamtokillhimoveragain，thereisnothingforitbutourabidingwithhimforthenextfewhoursatleast。To-morrowisanewday，andfairisthewoodland-hallofsummer-tide；neithershallwaterfailus。
Butastovictual，Iwotnotsavethatwehavenone。”
TheLadylaughed，andsaidtoRalph；“Whoknowethwhatthoumaystfindifthougototheblackhorseandlookintothesaddle-bagswhichIsawuponhimawhileagone？Forindeedweneedsomewhat，ifitwerebuttokeepthelifeinthebodyofthiswoundedman。”
Ralphsprangupandturnedtothehorse，andfoundthesaddle-bagsonhim，andtookfromthembreadandflesh，andaflaskofgoodwine，andbroughtthemtotheLady，wholaughedandsaid：“Thouartagoodseekerandnoillfinder。”Thenshegavethewoundedmantodrinkofthewine，sothathestirredsomewhat，andthecolourcameintohisfacealittle。
ThenshebadegatherstoreofbrackenforabedfortheBlackKnight，andRalphbestirredhimselftherein，buttheKnightoftheSunsatlookingattheLadyasshebusiedherselfwithhisfriend，andgloomseemedgatheringonhimagain。
Butwhenthebrackenwasenough，theLadymadeabeddeftlyandspeedily；
andbetweenthethreetheylaidthewoundedmanthereon，whoseemedcomingtohimselfsomewhat，andspakeafewwords，butthosenothingtothepoint。
ThentheLadytookhergayembroideredcloak，whichlayatthefootoftheoaktree，andcastitoverhimand，asRalphdeemed，eyedhimlovingly，andbeliketheKnightoftheSunthoughtinlikewise，forhescowleduponher；
andforawhilebutlittlewasthejoyancebytheancientoak，unlessitwerewiththeLady。
SupperandSlumberintheWoodlandHallCHAPTER24
Butwhenallwasdonetomakethewoundedknightaseasyasmightbe，theLadyturnedtotheothertwain，andsaidkindly：
“Now，lords，itweregoodtogettotable，sincehereiswherewithal。”
Andshelookedonthembothfullkindlyasshespakethewords，butnowisewantonly；evenastheladyofafairhousemightdobyhonouredguests。Sotheheartsofbothwerecheered，andnothingloththeysatdownbyheronthegrassandfelltomeat。
YetwastheKnightoftheSunalittlemoodyforawhile，butwhenhehadeatenanddrunkensomewhat，hesaid：
“Itwerewellifsomeonemightcomehereby，somehermitorholyman，towhomwemightgivethecareofWalter：
thenmightwehometoSunway，andsendfolkwithalittertofetchhimhomesoftlywhentheduetimewere。”
“Yea。”saidtheLady，“thatmighthappenforsooth，andperchanceitwill；
andifitwerebeforenightfallitwerebetter。”
Ralphsawthatasshespakeshetookholdofthetwofingersofherlefthandwithherrightforefinger，andletthethumbmeetit，sothatitmadeacircleaboutthem，andshespakesomethingtherewithinalowvoice，butheheededitlittle，saveashedidallwaysthatherbodymoved。AsfortheKnightoftheSun，hewaslookingdownonthegrassasoneponderingmatters，andnotedthisnot。
Buthesaidpresently：“WhathastthoutosayofWalternow？
Shallhelive？”“Yea。”shesaid，“maybeaslongaseitherofyoutwain。”
TheknightlookedhardatRalph，butsaidnothing，andRalphheedednothislooks，forhiseyeswerebusydevouringtheLady。
Sotheyabodealittle，andthemorepartofwhattalktherewascamefromtheLady，andshewaschieflyaskingRalphofhishomeinUpmeads，andhisbrethrenandkindred，andhetoldherallopenly，andhidnaught，whilehervoiceravishedhisverysoulfromhim，anditseemedstrangetohim，thatsuchanoneshouldholdhimintalkconcerningthesesimplemattersandfamiliarhaps，andlookonhimsokindlyandsimply。
Everandanonwouldshegoandlooktothewelfareofthewoundedman，andcomebackfromhim(fortheysatalittlewayaloof)，andtellthemhowhedid。AndstilltheKnightoftheSuntooklittleheed，andonceagaingloomsettleddownonhim。
Amidstallthisthesunwasset，andthelongwaterlaybeneaththeheavenslikeasheetofbright，fairhuedmetal，andnaughtstirredit：tillatlasttheLadyleanedforwardtoRalph，andtouchedhisshoulder(forhewassittingoveragainsther，withhisbacktothewater)，andshesaid：
“SirKnight，SirKnight，hiswishiscomingabout，Ibelieveverily。”
Heturnedhisheadtolookoverhisshoulder，and，asifbychance-hap，hischeekmettheoutstretchedhandshewaspointingwith：
shedrewitnotawayveryspeedily，andassweettohimwasthetouchofitasifhisfacehadbeenbrushedpastbyasummerlily。
“Nay，look！somethingcometh。”shecried；andhelookedandsawalittleboatmakingdownthewatertowardtheendanighthem。
ThentheKnightoftheSunseemedtoawakeatherword，andheleapttohisfeet，andstoodlookingatthenewcomer。
Itwasbutalittlewhileeretheboattouchedtheshore，andamansteppedoutofitontothegrassandmadeitfasttothebank，andthenstoodandlookedabouthimasifseekingsomething；andlo，itwasaholyman，ahermitinthehabitoftheBlackfriars。
ThentheKnightoftheSunhasteneddowntothestrandtomeethim，andwhenRalphwasthusleftalonewiththeLady，thoughitwerebutforalittle，hisheartbeatandhelongedsoretotouchherwithhishand，butdurstnot，anddidbuthopethatherhandwouldstrayhiswayasithade’ennow。
Butshearoseandstoodalittlewayfromhim，andspaketohimsweetlyofthefairnessoftheevening，andthewoundedman，andthegoodhapofthefriar’scomingbeforenightfall；
andhisheartwaswrungsorewiththeloveofher。
Socametheknightupfromthestrand，andtheholymanwithhim，whogreetedRalphandtheLadyandblessedthem，andsaid：
“Now，daughter，showmethysickman；forIamsomewhatofaleech，andthisthybaronwouldhavemehealhim，andIhavearightgoodwillthereto。”
SohewenttotheBlackKnight，andwhenhehadlookedtohishurts，heturnedtothemandsaid：“Haveyeperchanceanymeatinthewilderness？”
“Yea。”quoththeKnightoftheSun；“thereisenoughforadayormore，andifwemustneedsabideherelonger，Iorthisyoungmanmaywellmakeshifttoslaysomedeer，greatorlittle，foroursustenanceandthehealingofmyfriend。”
“Itiswell。”saidtheFriar；“myhermitageisnogreatwayhence，inthethicketattheendofthiswater。Butnowisthefeveronthisknight，andwemaynotmovehimeremorningatsoonest；
butto-morrowwemaymakeashifttobearhimhencebyboat：
or，ifnot，thenmayIgoandfetchfrommycellbreadandothermeat，andmilkofmygoats；andthusshallwedowelltillwemaybringhimtomycell，andthenshallyeleavehimthere；andafterwardsI
willleadhimhometoSunwaywherethoudwellest，baron，whenheiswellenoughhealed；or，ifhewillnotgothither，lethimgohisways，andImyselfwillcometoSunwayandlettheewotofhiswelfare。”
Theknightyeasaidallthis，andthereaftertheFriarandtheLadytogethertendedthewoundedknight，andgavehimwatertodrink，andwine。
AndmeanwhileRalphandtheKnightoftheSunlaydownonthegrassandwatchedtheevedarkening，andRalphmarvelledathishappiness，andwonderedwhatthemorrowwouldbringforth。
ButamidsthishappythoughtstheKnightoftheSunspaketohimandsaid：
“Youngknight，Ihavestruckabargainwithherthatthoushaltfollowushome，ifthouwilt：buttosaysooth，IthinkwhenthebargainwasstruckIwasmindedwhenIhadtheeatSunwaytocasttheeintomyprison。
ButnowIwilldootherwise，andifthoumustneedsfollowafterthineownperdition，asIhave，thoushaltdosofreely；thereforetakeagainthinearmourandweapons，anddowhatthouwiltwiththem。
Butifthouwiltdoaftermyrede，gettheeawayto-morrow，orbetter，to-night，anddesireourfellowshipnomore。”
Ralphheardhim，andtheheartwithinhimwasdivided。
Itwasinhismindtospeakdebonairelytotheknight；
butagainhefeltasifhehatedhim，andtheblythewordswouldnotcome，andheanswereddoggedly：
“IwillnotleavemyLadysinceshebiddethmegowithher。
Ifthouwiltthen，makethemostofitthatthouartstrongerthanI，andawarriormoreproven；setmebeforethysword，andfightwithmeandslayme。”
Thenrosethewrathtotheknight’slips，andhebrakeforth：“Thenisthereoneotherthingfortheetodo，andthatisthatthoutakethysword，whichIhavejustgivenbacktothee，andthrustherthroughtherewith。
Thatwerebetterfortheeandforme，andforhimwholiethyonder。”
Therewithhearoseandstrodeupanddowninthedusk，andRalphwonderedathim，yethatedhimnownotsomuch，sincehedeemedthattheLadywouldnotlovehim，andthathewasangeredthereby。
YetaboutRalph’shearttherehungacertainfearofwhatshouldbe。
Butpresentlytheknightcameandsatdownbyhimagain，andagainfelltospeechwithhim，andsaid：“ThouknowestthatImaynotslaythee，andyetthousayest，fightwithme；isthiswelldone？”
“Isitilldone？”saidRalph，“Iwotnotwhy。”
Theknightwassilentawhile，andthenhesaid：“WithwhatwordsshallIbeseechtheetodepartwhileitisyettime？
ItmaywellbethatindaystocomeIshallbegoodtothee，andhelpthee。”
ButRalphsaidneveraword。Thensaidtheknight，andsighedwithal：
“Inowseethisofthee，thatthoumaystnotdepart；well，soletitbe！”
andhesighedheavilyagain。ThenRalphstrovewithhimself，andsaidcourteously：“Sir，IamsorrythatIamaburdenirksometothee；andthat，whyIknownot，thoumaystnotridthyselfofmebythestronghand，andthatotherwisethoumaystnotberidofme。
Whatthenisthiswomantothee，thatthouwouldsthavemeslayher，andyetartsofierceinthyloveforher？”TheKnightoftheSunlaughedwrathfullythereat，andwasonthepointofansweringhim，whenupcamethosetwofromthewoundedman，andtheFriarsaid：
“Theknightshalldowell；butwellitisforhimthattheLadyofAbundancewashereforhishelping；forfromherhandsgoethallhealing，asitwaswiththeholymenofoldtime。
Maythesaintskeepherfromallharm；formeekandholyindeedsheis，asoftwehaveheardit。”
TheLadyputherhandonhisshoulder，asiftobidhimsilence，andthensetherselfdownonthegrassbesidetheKnightoftheSun，andfelltotalkingsweetlyandblithelytothethreemen。
TheFriaransweredherwithmanywords，andtoldherofthedeerandfowlofthewoodandthewaterthathewaswonttoseenightohishermitage；forofsuchthingssheaskedhim，andatlasthesaid：
“Goodsooth，IshouldbeshytosayinallplacesandbeforeallmenofallmydealingswithGod’screatureswhichliveaboutmethere。
Wotyewhat？E’ennowIhadnothoughtofcominghitherward；
butIwassittingamongstthetreesponderingmanythings，whenI
begantodrowse，anddrowsingIheardthethornbushesspeakingtomelikemen，andtheybademetakemyboatandgoupthewatertohelpamanwhowasinneed；andthatishowIcamehither；benedicite。”
Sohespake；buttheKnightoftheSundidbutputinawordhereandthere，andthatmostoftenasourandsnappishword。
AsforRalph，healsospakebutlittle，andstrayedsomewhatinhisanswers；forhecouldnotbutdeemthatshespakesoftlierandkindertohimthantotheothers；andhewasdreamywithloveanddesire，andscarceknewwhathewassaying。
Thustheyworeawaysometwohours，theFriarortheLadyturningawayatwhilestoheedthewoundedman，whowasnowtalkingwildlyinhisfever。
Butatlastthenightwasgrownasdarkasitwouldbe，sincecloudandstormcamenot，forthemoonhadsunkdown：
sotheLadysaid：“Now，lords，ourcandlehathgoneout，andIformypartwilltobed；soletuseachfindameetchamberinthewoodlandhall；andIwilllieneartothee，father，andthewoundedfriend，lestIbeneededtohelptheeinthenight；
