It is not yet over--but," she added, bursting into a vehement flood of weeping, in which personal apprehensions had some share, "it will soon, unless some course be taken." "I will vow a golden candlestick to the Holy Sepulchre, a shrine of silver to our Lady of Engaddi, a pall, worth one hundred byzants, to Saint Thomas of Orthez," said the Queen in extremity.
"Up, up, madam!" said Edith; "call on the saints if you list, but be your own best saint." "Indeed, madam," said the terrified attendant, "the Lady Edith speaks truth.

Up, madam, and let us to King Richard's tent and beg the poor gentleman's life." "I will go--I will go instantly," said the Queen, rising and trembling excessively; while her women, in as great confusion as herself, were unable to render her those duties which were indispensable to her levee.
Calm, composed, only pale as death, Edith ministered to the Queen with her own hand, and alone supplied the deficiencies of her numerous attendants.
"How you wait, wenches!" said the Queen, not able even then to forget frivolous distinctions.

"Suffer ye the Lady Edith to do the duties of your attendance?
Seest thou, Edith, they can do nothing; I shall never be attired in time.

We will send for the Archbishop of Tyre, and employ him as a mediator." "Oh, no, no!" exclaimed Edith.

"Go yourself madam; you have done the evil, do you confer the remedy." "I will go--I will go," said the Queen; "but if Richard be in his mood, I dare not speak to him--he will kill me!" "Yet go, gracious madam," said the Lady Calista, who best knew her mistress's temper; "not a lion, in his fury, could look upon such a face and form, and retain so much as an angry thought, far less a love-true knight like the royal Richard, to whom your slightest word would be a command." "Dost thou think so, Calista ?" said the Queen.