bandages, and changed the side of his shepherd's plaid to one much
older and more weather-beaten; also his pilgrim's hat for one in his
pouch--a blue bonnet, more like the national Scottish head-gear,
hiding the hat in the gorse.

Then he lay down and waited, where he could see a window, whence a
red kerchief was to be fluttered to show when the lady would be ready
for him to attend her. He waited long, for she had first to disarm
suspicion by presiding at the general meal of the household, and
showing no undue haste.

At last, though not till after he had more than once fallen asleep
and feared that he had missed the signal, or that his wife and 'Hal'
might be tempted to some imprudence while waiting, he beheld the
kerchief waving in the sunset light of the afternoon, and presently,
shrouded in such a black and white shepherd's maud as his own, and in
a russet gown with a basket on her arm, his lady came forth and
joined him.

His first thought was how would she return again, when the darkness
was begun, but her only answer was, 'Heed not that! My child, I must
see.'

Indeed, she was almost too breathless and eager with haste, as he
guided her over the rough and difficult path, or rather track, to
answer his inquiries as to what was to be done next. Her view,
however, agreed with his, that they must lurk in the borders of the
woodland for a day or two till Sir Lancelot's return, when he would
direct them to a place where he could put them under the protection
of one of the tenants of his manor. It was a long walk, longer than