"Fear not, my fair damsel," said Sir Nigel, "but tell me if
perchance a poor and most unworthy knight can in any wise be of
service to you. Should it chance that you have been used
despitefully, it may be that I may obtain justice for you."
"Lawk no, kind sir," she answered, clutching her bacon the
tighter, as though some design upon it might be hid under this
knightly offer. "I be the milking wench o' fairmer Arnold, and
he be as kind a maister as heart could wish."
"It is well," said he, and with a shake of the bridle rode on
down the woodland path. "I would have you bear in mind," he
continued to his squires, "that gentle courtesy is not, as is the
base use of so many false knights, to be shown only to maidens of
high degree, for there is no woman so humble that a true knight
may not listen to her tale of wrong. But here comes a cavalier
who is indeed in haste. Perchance it would be well that we
should ask him whither he rides, for it may be that he is one who
desires to advance himself in chivalry."
The bleak, hard, wind-swept road dipped down in front of them
into a little valley, and then, writhing up the heathy slope upon
the other side, lost itself among the gaunt pine-trees.
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