But hearken! if thou take it, thou must abide here in Greenharbour--a long while, maybe; yea, even so long as my Lady dwelleth here." Christopher flushed and said: "Lord, thou art kind and gracious, and I will take thy bidding." The Earl said: "Well, so it shall be then; and presently thou shalt go out of this guard-room a free man.

But abide a while." Therewith he drew a stool to him and sat down, and spake not for a long while; and Christopher abode his pleasure; at last spake the Earl: "One day, mayhappen, we may make a wedding for thee, and that no ill one." Christopher laughed: "Lord," said he, "what lady will wed me, a no man's son ?" Said the Earl: "Not if the Lord of Meadham be thy friend?
Well then, how if the Lady and Queen of Meadham make thee the wedding ?" Said Christopher: "I were liefer to make mine own wedding, whenso I need a woman in my bed: I will compel no woman, nor ask others to compel her." The Earl rose up, and fell to pacing the prison to and fro; and at last he stood over against Christopher, and said: "Hearken, forester: I will foretell thy fortune; it is that thou shalt become great by wedding." Christopher held his peace; and the Earl spake again: "Now is the shortest word best.

We deem thee both goodly and doughty, and would wed thee to a great lady, even that one to whom thou hast shown kindness in the wilderness." Said Christopher: "It is the wont of great lords to mock poor folk, therefore I must not show anger against thee." "I mock thee not," said the Earl; "I mean nought, but as my words say." "Nay then," said Christopher, "thou biddest me an evil deed, great Lord.
What I said was that I would compel no woman; and shall I compel her who is the wonder of the world and my very own Lady ?" "Hold thy peace, sir fool," said the Earl; "let me tell thee that she is as like to compel thee as thou her.

And as to her being thy Lady, she shall be thy Lady and wife indeed; but not here, for above all things will she get her away from Greenharbour, and thou shalt be her champion, to lead her about the world like a knight errant." Now was Christopher so troubled that he knew not what countenance to make, and scarce might he get a word out of his mouth a long while.

At last he said: "Lord, I see that I must needs do thy will if this be no trap which thou hast set for me.