vexed;--astonished to think how the knight could know, without seeing,
of this unlucky accident, and vexed to think of the loss of the best
part of her body, and one that she used well, and her husband also.

She replied; "Alas! sir, what is this you tell me, and how do you know
that my 'front piece' is in danger of falling off? It seems to keep its
place well."

"There, there! my dear," replied the knight. "Let it suffice that I have
told you the truth. You would not be the first to whom such a thing had
happened."

"Alas, sir," said she. "I shall be an undone, dishonoured and lost
woman; and what will my husband say when he hears of the mischance? He
will have no more to do with me."

"Be not discomforted to that degree, my friend; it has not happened yet;
besides there is a sure remedy."

When the young woman heard that there was a remedy for her complaint,
her blood began to flow again, and she begged the knight for God's sake
that he would teach her what she must do to keep this poor front-piece
from falling off. The knight, who was always most courteous and
gracious, especially towards the ladies, replied;

"My friend, as you are a good and pretty girl, and I like your husband,
I will teach you how to keep your front-piece."

"Alas, sir, I thank you; and certainly you will do a most meritorious
work: for it would be better to die than to live without my front-piece.