wonderfully contrived garments, and misty, floating veils; and lastly,
quite ten paces in the rear, walked _Isolt_, followed by her
_Brangaine_. And when the group by the fireplace caught sight of her,
they one and all drew in their breath.

For Zara had surpassed all expectations. The intense and blatant blue of
her long clinging robe, which would have killed the charms of nine women
out of ten, seemed to enhance the beauty of her pure white skin and
marvelous hair. It fell like a red shining cloak all round her, kept in
only by a thin fillet of gold, while her dark eyes gleamed with a new
excitement. She had relaxed her dominion of herself, and was allowing
the natural triumphant woman in her to have its day. For once in her
life she forgot everything of sorrow and care, and permitted herself to
rejoice in her own beauty and its effect upon the world before her.

"Jee-hoshaphat!" was the first articulate word that the company heard,
from the hush which had fallen upon them; and then there was a chorus of
general admiration, in which all the ladies had their share. And only
the Crow happened to glance at Tristram, and saw that his face was white
as death.

Then the two parties, about twenty people in all, began to arrive from
the other houses, and delighted exclamations of surprise at the splendor
of the impromptu fancy garments were heard all over the room, and soon
dinner was announced, and they went in.

"My Lord Tristram," Ethelrida had said to her cousin, "I beg of you to
conduct to my festal board your own most beautiful _Lady Isolt_.
Remember, on Monday you leave us for the realm of _King Mark_, so make
the most of your time!" And she turned and led forward Zara, and placed