Now hearken further: three months thereafter came the dream upon me again, when we were all three together in the Pillared Hall; and again was the vision somewhat dim.

Once more we were in the street of a busy town, but all unlike to that other one, and there were men standing together on our right hands by the door of a house." "Yea, yea," quoth Walter; "and, forsooth, one of them was who but I." "Refrain thee, beloved!" she said; "for my tale draweth to its ending, and I would have thee hearken heedfully: for maybe thou shalt once again deem my deed past pardon.

Some twenty days after this last dream, I had some leisure from my Mistress's service, so I went to disport me by the Well of the Oak-tree (or forsooth she might have set in my mind the thought of going there, that I might meet thee and give her some occasion against me); and I sat thereby, nowise loving the earth, but sick at heart, because of late the King's Son had been more than ever instant with me to yield him my body, threatening me else with casting me into all that the worst could do to me of torments and shames day by day.

I say my heart failed me, and I was wellnigh brought to the point of yea- saying his desires, that I might take the chance of something befalling me that were less bad than the worst.

But here must I tell thee a thing, and pray thee to take it to heart.