"And what does he bear by way of distinguishing himself? What crest or device doth he bear?"--"Merely a green shield."
"The unsuccessful knight in the tournament to-day. Heaven's! what can he desire with me; he is not--no, no, it cannot be--it cannot be."--"Will you admit him, lady?"
"Indeed, I know not what to do; but yet he may have some intelligence to give me. Yes, yes, admit him; but first throw some logs on the fire."
The attendant did as she was desired, and then quitted the room for the purpose of admitting the stranger knight with the green shield. In a few moments she could hear the stride of the knight as he entered the apartment, and she thought the step was familiar to her ear--she thought it was the step of Sir Arthur Home, her lover. She waited anxiously to see the door open, and then the stranger entered. His form and bearing was that of her lover, but his visor was down, and she was unable to distinguish the features of the stranger.
His armour was such as had seen many a day's hard wear, and there were plenty of marks of the battle about him. His travel-worn accoutrements were altogether such as bespoke service in the field.
"Sir, you desired to see me; say wherefore you do so, and if it is news you bring." The knight answered not, but pointed to the female attendant, as if he desired she would withdraw. "You may retire," said Bertha; "be within call, and let me know if I am threatened with interruption."
The attendant retired, and then the knight and lady were left alone. The former seemed at a loss how to break silence for some moments, and then he said,--
"Lady ----"--"Oh, Heavens! 'tis he!" exclaimed Bertha, as she sprang to her feet; "it is Sir Arthur Home!"
"It is," exclaimed the knight, pulling up his visor, and dropping on one knee he encircled his arm round the waist of the lady, and at the same moment he pressed her lips to his own.
The first emotion of joy and surprise over, Bertha checked her transports, and chid the knight for his boldness.
"Nay, chide me not, dear Bertha; lam what I was when I left you, and hope to find you the same."
"Am I not?" said Bertha.--"Truly I know not, for you seem more beautiful than you were then; I hope that is the only change."
"If there be a change, it is only such as you see. Sorrow and regret form the principal causes."--"I understand you."
"My intended nuptials ----"--"Yes, I have heard all. I came here but late in the morning; and my horse was jaded and tired, and my impatience to attend the tournament caused me a disaster which it is well it came not on the second day."
"It is, dear Arthur. How is it I never heard your name mentioned, or that I received no news from any one about you during the wars that have ended?"--"I had more than one personal enemy, Bertha; men who would have been glad to see me fall, and who, in default of that, would not have minded bribing an assassin to secure my death for them at any risk whatever."
"Heavens! and how did you escape such a death from such people, Arthur?"--"By adopting such a device as that I wear. The Knight of the Green Shield I'm called."
"I saw you to-day in the tournament."--"And there my tired and jaded horse gave way; but to-morrow I shall have, I hope, a different fortune."
"I hope so too."--"I will try; my arm has been good in battle, and I see not why it should be deficient in peaceful jousts."
"Certainly not. What fortune have you met with since you left England?"--"I was of course known but to a few; among those few were the general under whom I served and my more immediate officers, who I knew would not divulge my secret."
"And they did not?"--"No; kept it nobly, and kept their eyes upon me in battle; and I have reaped a rich harvest in force, honour, and riches, I assure you."
"Thank Heaven!" said Bertha.--"Bertha, if I be conqueror, may I claim you in the court-yard before all the spectators?"
"You may," said Bertha, and she hung her head.--"Moreover," said Sir Arthur, "you will not make a half promise, but when I demand you, you will at once come down to me and accept me as your husband; if I be the victor then he cannot object to the match."
"But he will have many friends, and his intended bride will have many more, so that you may run some danger among so many enemies."--"Never fear for me, Bertha, because I shall have many friends of distinction there too--many old friends who are tried men in battle, and whose deeds are a glory and honour to them; besides, I shall have my commander and several gentlemen who would at once interfere in case any unfair advantage was attempted to be taken of my supposed weakness."