The Lady Tells Somewhat of Her Doings After She Left the Wilderness Ralph stayed her speech now, and said: "When I asked of thee in the Land of Abundance, there were some who seemed to say that thou hast let more men love thee than one: and it was a torment to me to think that even so it might be.

But now when thine own mouth telleth me of one of them it irks me little.

Dost thou think it little-hearted in me ?" "O friend," she said, "I see that so it is with thee that thou wouldst find due cause for loving me, whatever thou foundest true of me.

Or dost thou deem that I was another woman in those days?
Nay, I was not: I can see myself still myself all along the way I have gone." She was silent a little, and then she said: "Fear not, I will give thee much cause to love me.

But now I know thy mind the better, I shall tell thee less of what befell me after I left the wilderness; for whatever I did and whatever I endured, still it was always I myself that was there, and it is me that thou lovest.