“Itisdonethen。”saidtheLord；andhelethergo；
forhehadbeenstrokingherarmandshoulder，andshehurriedaway，laughinginwardly，totheLady’swomen。
Buthewentintothepavilionafterhehadcastonelookather。
CHAPTER37
HowRalphJustedWiththeAliensMeanwhileCaptainOtterhadbroughtRalphintothestaked-outlists，which，beinghastilypitched，werebutslenderlydone，andnowtheUpmeadsstriplingstoodtherebesideagoodhorsewhichtheyhadbroughttohim，andOtterhadbeenspeakingtohimfriendly。
ButRalphsawtheLordcomeforthfromthepavilionandtakehisseatonanivorychairsetonaturfridgeclosetothestakesofthelists：forthatplacewasusedofcustomforsuchgamesastheyexercisedinthelandsofUtterbol。
ThenpresentlytheLady’swomencameoutoftheirtents，and，beingmarshalledbyAgatha，wentintotheQueen’spavilion，whencetheycameforthagainpresentlylikeabedofgardenflowersmoving，havinginthemidstofthemawomansofair，andcladsogloriously，thatRalphmustneedslookonher，thoughheweresomewayoff，andtakenoteofherbeauty。
ShewentandsatherdownbesidetheLord，andRalphdoubtednotthatitwastheQueen，whomhehadbutglancedatwhentheyfirstmadestaybeforethepavilion。
Soothtosay，JoycebeingwellnighastallastheQueen，andaswhiteofskin，wasotherwiseafarfairerwoman。
NowspakeOttertoRalph：“Imustleavetheehere，lad，andgototheotherside，asIamtorunagainstthee。”SaidRalph：
“Artthoutorunfirst？”“Nay，butratherlast。”saidOtter；
“theywilltrytheefirstwithoneofthesergeants，andifheovercomethee，thenallisdone，andthouartinanevilplight。
Otherwisewilltheyfindanotherandanother，andatlastitwillbemyturn。Sokeeptheewell，lad。”
Therewithherodeaway，andtherecametoRalphoneofthesergeants，whobroughthimaspear，andbadehimtohorse。
SoRalphmountedandtookthespearinhand；andthesergeantsaid：
“Thouarttorunatwhatsoevermeeteththeewhenthouhastheardthethirdblastofthehorn。Artthouready？”“Yea，yea。”
saidRalph；“butIseethatthespear-headisnotrebated，sothatwearetoplayatsharps。”
“Artthouafraid，youngling？”saidthesergeant，whowasoldandcrabbed，“ifthatbeso，goandtelltheLord：
butthouwiltfindthathewillnothavehissportwhollyspoiled，butwillsomehowmakeaboltorashaftoutofthee。”
SaidRalph：“Ididbutjest；Ideemmyselfnotsonearmydeathto-dayasIhavebeentwicethissummeroroftener。”
Saidthesergeant，“ItisilljestinginmatterswhereinmyLordhathtodo。Nowthouhastheardmyword：
doafterit。”
Therewithhedeparted，andRalphlaughedandshookthespearaloft，anddeemeditnotoverstrong；buthesaidtohimselfthatthespearsoftheotherswouldbemuchthesame。
Nowthehornblewupthrice，andatthelatestblastRalphprickedforth，asonewellusedtothetilt，butheldhishorsewellinhand；
andhesawamancomedrivingagainsthimwithhisspearintherest，anddeemedhimrightbig；butthiswithalhesaw，thatthemanwasillarrayed，andwaspullingonhishorseasonenotwillingtotrusthimtotherush；andindeedhecameonsoillthatitwasclearthathewouldneverstrikeRalph’sshieldfairly。
Soheswervedastheymet，sothathisspear-pointwasneverneartoRalph，whoturnedhishorsetowardhimalittle，andcaughthisfoemanbythegearabouthisneck，andspurredon，sothathedraggedhimcleanoutofhissaddle，andlethimdrop，androdebackquietlytohisplace，andgotoffhishorsetoseetohisgirths；
andheheardgreatlaughterrisingupfromtheringofmen，andfromthewomenalso。ButtheLordofUtterbolcriedout：
“Bringforthsomeonewhodothnoteatmymeatfornothing：
andsetthatwretchanddastardasidetillthetiltingbeover，andthenheshallpayalittleforhiswastedmeatanddrink。”
Ralphgotintohissaddleagain，andsawaverybigmancomeforthattheotherendofthelists，andwonderedifheshouldbeoverthrownofhim；butnotedthathishorseseemednotovergood。Thenthehornblewupandhespurredon，andhisfoemanmethimfairlyinthemidmostofthelists：
yethelaidhisspearbutill，andasonewhowouldthrustandfoinwithitratherthanlettingitdriveallitmight，sothatRalphturnedthepointwithhisshieldthatitglancedoff，buthehimselfsmotetheotherfullontheshoulder，andtheshaftbrake，butthepointhadpiercedtheman’sarmour，andthetruncheonstuckinthewound：
yetsincethespearwasbrokenhekepthissaddle。
TheLordcriedout，“Well，BlackAnselm，thisisbetterdone；
yetartthouabigmanandawell-skilledtobebeatenbyastripling。”
SothemanwashelpedawayandRalphwentbacktohisplaceagain。
ThenanothermanwasgottentorunagainstRalph，anditwentthesame-likeway：forRalphsmotehimamidstoftheshield，andthespearheld，sothathefellflounderingoffhishorse。
SixofthestoutestmenofUtterboldidRalphoverthroworhurtinthiswise；andthenheranthreecourseswithOtter，andinthefirsttwoeachbrakehisspearfairlyontheother；
butinthethirdOttersmotenotRalphsquarely，butRalphsmotefullamidstofhisshield，andsodighthimthathewell-nighfell，andcouldnotmasterhishorse，butyetjustbarelykepthissaddle。
ThentheLordcriedout：“Nowmakeweanendofit！
Wehavenomightagainstthisyoungling，mantoman：
orelsewouldOtterhavedoneit。Thiscomesoflearningacraftdiligently。”
SoRalphgotoffhishorse，anddidoffhishelmandawaitedtidings；
andanoncomestohimthesurlysergeant，andbroughthimacupofwine，andsaid：“Youngling，thouarttodrinkthis，andthengotomyLord；
andIdeemthatthouartinfavourwithhim。Soifthouartnottoogreataman，thoumightestputinawordforpoorRedhead，thatfirstmanthatdidsoill。FormyLordwouldhavehimsetup，andheaddownandbuttocksaloft，asatargetforourbowmen。
Anditwillbehisluckifhebespedwiththethirdshot，andlastnotouttothetwentieth。”
“Yea，certes。”saidRalph，“Iwilldonoless，evenifitangertheLord。”“Othouwiltnotangerhim。”saidtheman，“forItellthee，thouartinfavour。Yea，andformealsothoumightestsayawordalso，whenthoubecomestrightgreat；
forhaveInotbroughttheeagoodbowlofwine？”
“Doubtitnot，man。”saidRalph，“ifIoncegetsafetoUtterbol：
wearyonitandallitsways！”Saidthesergeant：
“ThatisanevilwishforonewhoshalldowellatUtterbol。
Butcome，tarrynot。”
SohebroughtRalphtotheLord，whostillsatinhischairbesidethatfairwoman，andRalphdidobeysancetohim；
yethehadasidelongglancealsoforthatfairseeming-queen，anddeemedherbothproud-looking，andsowhite-skinned，thatshewasawonder，likethequeenofthefays：
anditwasjustthisthathehadnotedoftheQueenashestoodbeforeherearlierinthedaywhentheyfirstcameintothevale；
thereforehehadnodoubtofthisdamsel’squeenship。
NowtheLordspaketohimandsaid：“Well，youngling，thouhastdonewell，andbetterthanthybehest：andsinceyehavebeenplayingatsharps，Ideemthouwould’stnotdoillinbattle，ifitcametothat。
SonowIamliketomakesomethingotheroftheethanIwasmindedtoatfirst：forIdeemthatthouartgoodenoughtobeaman。
Andifthouwiltnowaskaboonofme，ifitbenotovergreat，Iwillgrantitthee。”
Ralphputonekneetotheground，andsaid：“GreatLord，Ithankthee：butwhereasIaminanalienlandandseekinggreatthings，IknowofnogiftwhichImaytakeformyselfsaveleavetodepart，whichIdeemthouwiltnotgrantme。
Yetonethingthoumaystdoformyaskingifthouwilt。
IfthoubestillangrywiththecarlewhomIfirstunhorsed，Ipraytheepardonhimhisill-luck。”
“Ill-luck！”saidtheLord，“Why，Isawhimthathewasdownrightafraidofthee。Andifmymenaretogrowblenchersandsoft-heartswhatistodothen？Buttellme，Otter，whatisthenameofthiscarle？”
SaidOtter，“Redheadhehight，Lord。”SaidtheLord：“Andwhatlikeamanisheinafray？”“Naughtsoill，Lord。”saidOtter。
“Thistime，liketherestofus，heknewnotthisgear。
Itwerescarcegoodtomisshimatthenextpinch。
Itwereenoughifhehadthethongsoverhisbackafewdozentimes；
itwillnotbethefirstdayofsuchcheertohim。”
“Ha！”saidtheLord，“andwhatfor，Otter，whatfor？”
“Becausehewassomewhatrough-handed，Lord。”saidOtter。
“Thenshallweneedhimandusehimsomeday。Lethimgoscotfreeanddobetteranotherbout。Thereisthyboongrantedforthee，knight；andanotherdaythoumaystasksomethingmore。
AndnowshallDavidhaveacareofthee。AndwhenwecometoUtterbolweshallseewhatistobedonewiththee。”
ThenRalphroseupandthankedhim，andDavidcameforward，andledhimtohistent。Andhewaswheedlinginhiswaystohim，asifRalphwerenowbecomeonewhomightdohimgreatgoodifsohiswillwere。
ButtheLordwentbackagainintotheTower。
AstotheLady，sheabodeinherpavilionamidstmanyfearsanddesires，tillAgathaenteredandsaid：“MyLady，sofarallhasgonehappily。”
SaidtheLady：“Ideemedfromthenoiseandthecrythathewasdoingwell。
Buttellme，howdidhe？”“’MyLady。”quothAgatha，“heknockedourfolkaboutwell-favouredly，andseemedtothinklittleofit。”
“AndJoyce。”saidtheLady，“howdidshe？”“Shelookedaqueen，everyinchofher，andsheistall。”saidAgatha：“soothlysomefolkstaredonher，butnotmanyknewofher，sincesheisbutnewintoourhouse。Thoughitisamatterofcoursethatallsaveournew-comeknightknewthatitwasnotthouthatsatthere。
AndmyLordwaswell-pleased，andnowhehathtakenherbythehandandledherintotheTower。”
TheLadyreddenedandscowled，andsaid：“Andhe……didhecomeanighher？”
“Oyea。”saidAgatha，“whereashestoodbeforemyLordagoodwhile，andthenkneeledtohimtopraypardonforoneofourmenwhohaddoneillinthetilting：yea，hewasnighenoughtohertotouchherhadhedared，andtosmellthefragranceofherraiment。
Andheseemedtothinkitgoodtolookoutofthecornersofhiseyesather；thoughIdonotsaythatshesmiledonhim。”
TheLadysprangup，hercheeksburning，andwalkedaboutangrilyawhile，strivingforwords，tillatlastshesaid：“WhenwecomehometoUtterbol，mylordwillseehisnewthrallagain，andwillcareforJoycenowhit：
thenwillIhavemywillofher；andsheshalllearn，she，whetherI
amverilytheleastofwomenatUtterbol！Ha！whatsayestthou？
Nowwhywiltthoustandandsmileonme？——Yea，Iknowwhatisinthythought；
andinverysoothitisgoodthatthedearyounglinghathnotseenthisnewthrall，thisUrsula。Forsooth，ItelltheethatifIdursthaveherinmyhandsIwouldhaveatruetaleoutofherastowhyshewearetheverthatpairofbeadsaboutherneck。”
“Now，ourLady。”saidAgatha，“thouartmarringthefairnessofthyfaceagain。Ibidtheebeatpeace，forallshallbewell，andotherthanthoudeemest。Tellme，then，didstthougetourLordtoswearimmunityforme？”SaidtheLady：
“Yea，hesworeontheedgeoftheswordthatthoumightestsaywhatthouwouldst，andneitherhenoranyothershouldlayhandonthee。”
“Good。”saidAgatha；“thenwillIgotohimto-morrowmorning，whenJoycehasgonefromhim。Butnowholdupthineheart，andkeepcloseforthesetwodaysthatweshallyetabideinTowerDale：
andtrustmethisveryeveningIshallbegintosettidingsgoingthatshallworkandgrow，andshallonedayrejoicethineheart。”
Sofellthetalkbetwixtthem。
