There are only the two of us here that remember the old man my father and the little room to which you came as a babe, all in white." So presently she was somewhat pacified, and reached me a hand from the back of her beast, on pretence of leaning over to avoid a swinging sign in one of the narrow streets near by the White Gate, where we were to meet the Lady Ysolinde.
"And yet more, Little Playmate," said I, keeping her hand when I had it; "do not begin by distrusting the noble lady with whom we are to travel.
For she means well to us both, and in the strange country to which we go we may be wholly in her power." "You are sure that you do not love that woman, then ?" said Helene, without looking at me.

For, indeed, in many things she was but a child, and ever spoke more freely than other maids--perhaps with being brought up in the Red Tower in the company of my father, who on all occasions spoke his mind just as it came to him.
"Nay," said I, "believe me, little love, I do not love her at all." And now on horseback Helene looked all charming, and what with the exercise, the unknown adventure, and my reassurance, she had a glow of rose color in her cheeks.

She had never before been so far away from the precincts of the Wolfsberg.

I had even taught her to ride in the court-yard of a summer evening, on a horse borrowed from one of the Duke's squires.
We found the Lady Ysolinde waiting for us at her house, Master Gerard talking to her in the doorway, earnestly and apart.

Both of them had a look of much solemnity, as though the matter of their discourse were some very weighty one.
Presently her father kissed her and she came down the steps.