Yet about Ralph's heart there hung a certain fear of what should be.
But presently the knight came and sat down by him again, and again fell to speech with him, and said: "Thou knowest that I may not slay thee, and yet thou sayest, fight with me; is this well done ?" "Is it ill done ?" said Ralph, "I wot not why." The knight was silent awhile, and then he said: "With what words shall I beseech thee to depart while it is yet time?
It may well be that in days to come I shall be good to thee, and help thee." But Ralph said never a word.

Then said the knight, and sighed withal: "I now see this of thee, that thou mayst not depart; well, so let it be!" and he sighed heavily again.

Then Ralph strove with himself, and said courteously: "Sir, I am sorry that I am a burden irksome to thee; and that, why I know not, thou mayst not rid thyself of me by the strong hand, and that otherwise thou mayst not be rid of me.

What then is this woman to thee, that thou wouldst have me slay her, and yet art so fierce in thy love for her ?" The Knight of the Sun laughed wrathfully thereat, and was on the point of answering him, when up came those two from the wounded man, and the Friar said: "The knight shall do well; but well it is for him that the Lady of Abundance was here for his helping; for from her hands goeth all healing, as it was with the holy men of old time.

May the saints keep her from all harm; for meek and holy indeed she is, as oft we have heard it." The Lady put her hand on his shoulder, as if to bid him silence, and then set herself down on the grass beside the Knight of the Sun, and fell to talking sweetly and blithely to the three men.