Be patient; half a score of light horsemen may yet follow and redeem the error, if thy gallant have in keeping any secret which might render his death more convenient than his banishment." "Peace with thy scurrile jests!" answered Edith, colouring deeply.
"Think, rather, that for the indulgence of thy mood thou hast lopped from this great enterprise one goodly limb, deprived the Cross of one of its most brave supporters, and placed a servant of the true God in the hands of the heathen; hast given, too, to minds as suspicious as thou hast shown thine own in this matter, some right to say that Richard Coeur de Lion banished the bravest soldier in his camp lest his name in battle might match his own." "I--I!" exclaimed Richard, now indeed greatly moved--"am I one to be jealous of renown?
I would he were here to profess such an equality! I would waive my rank and my crown, and meet him, manlike, in the lists, that it might appear whether Richard Plantagenet had room to fear or to envy the prowess of mortal man.

Come, Edith, thou think'st not as thou sayest.

Let not anger or grief for the absence of thy lover make thee unjust to thy kinsman, who, notwithstanding all thy techiness, values thy good report as high as that of any one living." "The absence of my lover ?" said the Lady Edith, "But yes, he may be well termed my lover, who hath paid so dear for the title.

Unworthy as I might be of such homage, I was to him like a light, leading him forward in the noble path of chivalry; but that I forgot my rank, or that he presumed beyond his, is false, were a king to speak it." "My fair cousin," said Richard, "do not put words in my mouth which I have not spoken.

I said not you had graced this man beyond the favour which a good knight may earn, even from a princess, whatever be his native condition.