Nor needest thou trouble thee concerning Dame Elinor; little more shalt thou hear of her henceforward." But Goldilind spake and said: "My Lord Earl, I would ask grace for this one; for what she did to me she did compelled, and not of her free will, and I forgive it her.

And moreover, this last time she suffered in her body for the helping of me; so if thou mightest do her asking I were the better pleased." "It shall be as thou wilt, my Lady," said the Earl, "and I will have her with me and keep her quiet in Meadhamstead; but, by Allhallows! had it not been for thy word we would have had her whipped into the wild-wood, and hanged up on to a tree thereafter." Then Aloyse knelt before Goldilind and kissed her feet, and wept, and drew back pale and trembling.

But Goldilind shook her rein once for all now, and her apple-grey horse went forth with her; Christopher came after, leading the sumpter beast, and forth they went, and passed over the open green about the Castle, and came on to the woodland way whereby Goldilind had fled that other time..