“Well, my son,” cried my master, taking my hand, “why so pale?  Sure thou hast had a sore bout, but thou art mending.”

I could but stammer my lady’s name—­

“Elliot—­shall I see her soon?”

He scratched his rough head and pulled his russet beard, and so laughed shamefacedly.

“Why, lad, to that very end she came, and now—­St. Anthony’s fire take me if I well know why—­she will none of it.  The Maid brought us in her company, for, as you know, she will ever have young lasses with her when she may, and as far as Orleans the roads are safe.  And who so glad as Elliot when the Maid put this command on her, after we got thy letter?  I myself was most eager to ride, not only for your sake, but to see how Orleans stood after the long pounding.  But when we had come to our lodging, and I was now starting off to greet you, Elliot made no motion of rising.  Nay, when I bade her make haste, she said that haste there was none; and when I, marvelling, asked, ‘Wherefore?’ answered that she was loth to spoil good company, and had seen you, as I did myself, happy enough with the lass who nursed you, and who had written to her.”

“And wherefore, in Heaven’s name, should we not be happy on such a day as this was an hour agone?  But now the sun is out of the sky.”

“I see him plainer than ever I did in the Merse,” said my master, looking up where the sun was bright in the west.  “But what would you?  Women have been thus since Eve had a daughter, for our father Adam, I trow, had no trouble with other ladies than his wife—­and that was trouble enough.”

“But how am I to make my peace, and win my pardon, being innocent as I am?”

“Faith, I know not!” said he, and laughed again, which angered me some deal, for what was there to laugh at?

“May I let bring a litter, for I cannot yet walk, and so go back with you to her?”

“Indeed, I doubt if it were wise,” said he; and so we stood gazing at each other, while I could have wept for very helpless anger.  “I have it, I think,” said he at last.  “The Maid is right busy, as needs must be, gathering guns and food for her siege of Jargeau.  But it is not fitting that she should visit Orleans without seeing you, nor would she wish to be so negligent.  Yet if she were, I would put it in her mind, and then, when you are with her, which Elliot shall not know, I will see that Elliot comes into the chamber, and so leave all to you, and to her, and to the Maid.  For she hath great power with that silly wench of mine, who has no other desire, I trow, than a good excuse to be rid of her sudden anger.  If she loved you less, she would be never so fiery.”

I myself could see no better hope or comfort.

Then he began to devise with me on other matters, and got from me the story of my great peril at the hands of Brother Thomas.  He laughed at the manner of my outwitting that miscreant, who had never been taken, but was fled none knew whither, and my master promised to tell the tale to the Maid, and warn her against this enemy.  And so bidding me be of good cheer, he departed; but for my part, I went into my chamber, drew the bolt, and cast myself on the bed, refusing meat or drink, or to see the face of man or woman.