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Chapter XII
”
“Yondermayyeseehim,”saidKingArthur.
ThenwentshetoSirLancelotandsaid,“Sir,IsalutetheeinKingPelles’name,andrequiretheetocomewithmeintotheforesthereby.”
Thenaskedheherwithwhomshedwelt,andwhatshewishedofhim.
“IdwellwithKingPelles,”saidshe,“whomBalinerstsosorelywoundedwhenhesmotethedolorousstroke.Itishewhohathsentmetocallthee.”
“Iwillgowiththeegladly,”saidSirLancelot,andbadehissquirestraightwaysaddlehishorseandbringhisarmour.
Thencamethequeentohimandsaid,“SirLancelot,willyeleavemethusatthishighfeast?”
“Madam,”repliedthedamsel,“bydinner-timeto-morrowheshallbewithyou.”
“IfIthoughtnot,”saidthequeen,“heshouldnotgowiththeebymygoodwill.”
ThenSirLancelotandtheladyrodeforthtilltheycametotheforest,andinavalleythereoffoundanabbeyofnuns,wherebyasquirestoodreadytoopenthegates.Whentheyhadentered,anddescendedfromtheirhorses,ajoyfulcrowdpressedroundSirLancelotandheartilysalutedhim,andledhimtotheabbess’schamber,andunarmedhim.Anonhesawhiscousinslikewisethere,SirBorsandSirLionel,whoalsomadegreatjoyatseeinghim,andsaid,“Bywhatadventureartthouhere,forwethoughttohaveseentheeatCamelotto-morrow?”
“Adamselbroughtmehere,”saidhe,“butasyetIknownotforwhatservice.”
Astheythustalkedtwelvenunscamein,whobroughtwiththemayouthsopassingfairandwellmade,thatinalltheworldhismatchcouldnotbefound.
