Peacewiththyscurriljests！’’answeredEdith，colouringdeeply-Thinkrather，thatfortheindulgenceofthymoodthouhastloppedfromthisgreatenterpriseonegoodlylimb，deprivedtheCrossofoneofitsmostbravesupporters，andplacedaservantofthetrueGodinthehandsoftheheathen；hastgiven，too，tomindsassuspiciousasthouhastshownthineowninthismatter，somerighttosaythatRichardCurdeLionbanishedthebravestsoldierinhiscamp，lesthisnameinbattlemightmatchhisown。’’
I-I！’’exclaimedRichard，nowindeedgreatlymoved-
amIonetobejealousofrenown？-Iwouldhewereheretoprofesssuchequality！Iwouldwaivemyrankandmycrown，andmeethim，man-like，inthelists，thatitmightappearwhetherRichardPlantagenethadroomtofearortoenvytheprowessofmortalman。Come，Edith，thouthink’stnotasthousay’st。Letnotangerorgrieffortheabsenceofthylovermaketheeunjusttothykinsman，who，notwithstandingallthytetchiness，valuesthygoodreportashighasthatofanyoneliving。’’
Theabsenceofmylover？’’saidtheLadyEdith。Butyes-hemaybewelltermedmylover，whohathpaidsodearforthetitle。UnworthyasImightbeofsuchhomage，Iwastohimlikealight，leadinghimforwardinthenoblepathofchivalry；butthatIforgotmyrank，orthathepresumedbeyondhis，isfalse，wereakingtospeakit。’’
Myfaircousin，’’saidRichard，donotputwordsinmymouthwhichIhavenotspoken。Isaidnotyouhadgracedthismanbeyondthefavourwhichagoodknightmayearn，evenfromaprincess，whateverbehisnativecondition。But，byOurLady，Iknowsomethingofthislove-gear-itbeginswithmuterespectanddistantreverence；but，whenopportunitiesoccur，familiarityincreases，andso-Butitskillsnottalkingwithonewhothinksherselfwiserthanalltheworld。’’