“Itisdonethen。”saidtheLord；andhelethergo；
　　forhehadbeenstrokingherarmandshoulder，andshehurriedaway，laughinginwardly，totheLady’swomen。
　　Buthewentintothepavilionafterhehadcastonelookather。
　　CHAPTER37
　　HowRalphJustedWiththeAliensMeanwhileCaptainOtterhadbroughtRalphintothestaked-outlists，which，beinghastilypitched，werebutslenderlydone，andnowtheUpmeadsstriplingstoodtherebesideagoodhorsewhichtheyhadbroughttohim，andOtterhadbeenspeakingtohimfriendly。
　　ButRalphsawtheLordcomeforthfromthepavilionandtakehisseatonanivorychairsetonaturfridgeclosetothestakesofthelists：forthatplacewasusedofcustomforsuchgamesastheyexercisedinthelandsofUtterbol。
　　ThenpresentlytheLady’swomencameoutoftheirtents，and，beingmarshalledbyAgatha，wentintotheQueen’spavilion，whencetheycameforthagainpresentlylikeabedofgardenflowersmoving，havinginthemidstofthemawomansofair，andcladsogloriously，thatRalphmustneedslookonher，thoughheweresomewayoff，andtakenoteofherbeauty。
　　ShewentandsatherdownbesidetheLord，andRalphdoubtednotthatitwastheQueen，whomhehadbutglancedatwhentheyfirstmadestaybeforethepavilion。
　　Soothtosay，JoycebeingwellnighastallastheQueen，andaswhiteofskin，wasotherwiseafarfairerwoman。
　　NowspakeOttertoRalph：“Imustleavetheehere，lad，andgototheotherside，asIamtorunagainstthee。”SaidRalph：
　　“Artthoutorunfirst？”“Nay，butratherlast。”saidOtter；
　　“theywilltrytheefirstwithoneofthesergeants，andifheovercomethee，thenallisdone，andthouartinanevilplight。
　　Otherwisewilltheyfindanotherandanother，andatlastitwillbemyturn。Sokeeptheewell，lad。”
　　Therewithherodeaway，andtherecametoRalphoneofthesergeants，whobroughthimaspear，andbadehimtohorse。
　　SoRalphmountedandtookthespearinhand；andthesergeantsaid：
　　“Thouarttorunatwhatsoevermeeteththeewhenthouhastheardthethirdblastofthehorn。Artthouready？”“Yea，yea。”
　　saidRalph；“butIseethatthespear-headisnotrebated，sothatwearetoplayatsharps。”
　　“Artthouafraid，youngling？”saidthesergeant，whowasoldandcrabbed，“ifthatbeso，goandtelltheLord：
　　butthouwiltfindthathewillnothavehissportwhollyspoiled，butwillsomehowmakeaboltorashaftoutofthee。”
　　SaidRalph：“Ididbutjest；Ideemmyselfnotsonearmydeathto-dayasIhavebeentwicethissummeroroftener。”
　　Saidthesergeant，“ItisilljestinginmatterswhereinmyLordhathtodo。Nowthouhastheardmyword：
　　doafterit。”
　　Therewithhedeparted，andRalphlaughedandshookthespearaloft，anddeemeditnotoverstrong；buthesaidtohimselfthatthespearsoftheotherswouldbemuchthesame。
　　Nowthehornblewupthrice，andatthelatestblastRalphprickedforth，asonewellusedtothetilt，butheldhishorsewellinhand；
　　andhesawamancomedrivingagainsthimwithhisspearintherest，anddeemedhimrightbig；butthiswithalhesaw，thatthemanwasillarrayed，andwaspullingonhishorseasonenotwillingtotrusthimtotherush；andindeedhecameonsoillthatitwasclearthathewouldneverstrikeRalph’sshieldfairly。
　　Soheswervedastheymet，sothathisspear-pointwasneverneartoRalph，whoturnedhishorsetowardhimalittle，andcaughthisfoemanbythegearabouthisneck，andspurredon，sothathedraggedhimcleanoutofhissaddle，andlethimdrop，androdebackquietlytohisplace，andgotoffhishorsetoseetohisgirths；
　　andheheardgreatlaughterrisingupfromtheringofmen，andfromthewomenalso。ButtheLordofUtterbolcriedout：
　　“Bringforthsomeonewhodothnoteatmymeatfornothing：
　　andsetthatwretchanddastardasidetillthetiltingbeover，andthenheshallpayalittleforhiswastedmeatanddrink。”
　　Ralphgotintohissaddleagain，andsawaverybigmancomeforthattheotherendofthelists，andwonderedifheshouldbeoverthrownofhim；butnotedthathishorseseemednotovergood。Thenthehornblewupandhespurredon，andhisfoemanmethimfairlyinthemidmostofthelists：
　　yethelaidhisspearbutill，andasonewhowouldthrustandfoinwithitratherthanlettingitdriveallitmight，sothatRalphturnedthepointwithhisshieldthatitglancedoff，buthehimselfsmotetheotherfullontheshoulder，andtheshaftbrake，butthepointhadpiercedtheman’sarmour，andthetruncheonstuckinthewound：
　　yetsincethespearwasbrokenhekepthissaddle。
　　TheLordcriedout，“Well，BlackAnselm，thisisbetterdone；
　　yetartthouabigmanandawell-skilledtobebeatenbyastripling。”
　　SothemanwashelpedawayandRalphwentbacktohisplaceagain。
　　ThenanothermanwasgottentorunagainstRalph，anditwentthesame-likeway：forRalphsmotehimamidstoftheshield，andthespearheld，sothathefellflounderingoffhishorse。
　　SixofthestoutestmenofUtterboldidRalphoverthroworhurtinthiswise；andthenheranthreecourseswithOtter，andinthefirsttwoeachbrakehisspearfairlyontheother；
　　butinthethirdOttersmotenotRalphsquarely，butRalphsmotefullamidstofhisshield，andsodighthimthathewell-nighfell，andcouldnotmasterhishorse，butyetjustbarelykepthissaddle。
　　ThentheLordcriedout：“Nowmakeweanendofit！
　　Wehavenomightagainstthisyoungling，mantoman：
　　orelsewouldOtterhavedoneit。Thiscomesoflearningacraftdiligently。”
　　SoRalphgotoffhishorse，anddidoffhishelmandawaitedtidings；
　　andanoncomestohimthesurlysergeant，andbroughthimacupofwine，andsaid：“Youngling，thouarttodrinkthis，andthengotomyLord；
　　andIdeemthatthouartinfavourwithhim。Soifthouartnottoogreataman，thoumightestputinawordforpoorRedhead，thatfirstmanthatdidsoill。FormyLordwouldhavehimsetup，andheaddownandbuttocksaloft，asatargetforourbowmen。
　　Anditwillbehisluckifhebespedwiththethirdshot，andlastnotouttothetwentieth。”
　　“Yea，certes。”saidRalph，“Iwilldonoless，evenifitangertheLord。”“Othouwiltnotangerhim。”saidtheman，“forItellthee，thouartinfavour。Yea，andformealsothoumightestsayawordalso，whenthoubecomestrightgreat；
　　forhaveInotbroughttheeagoodbowlofwine？”
　　“Doubtitnot，man。”saidRalph，“ifIoncegetsafetoUtterbol：
　　wearyonitandallitsways！”Saidthesergeant：
　　“ThatisanevilwishforonewhoshalldowellatUtterbol。
　　Butcome，tarrynot。”
　　SohebroughtRalphtotheLord，whostillsatinhischairbesidethatfairwoman，andRalphdidobeysancetohim；
　　yethehadasidelongglancealsoforthatfairseeming-queen，anddeemedherbothproud-looking，andsowhite-skinned，thatshewasawonder，likethequeenofthefays：
　　anditwasjustthisthathehadnotedoftheQueenashestoodbeforeherearlierinthedaywhentheyfirstcameintothevale；
　　thereforehehadnodoubtofthisdamsel’squeenship。
　　NowtheLordspaketohimandsaid：“Well，youngling，thouhastdonewell，andbetterthanthybehest：andsinceyehavebeenplayingatsharps，Ideemthouwould’stnotdoillinbattle，ifitcametothat。
　　SonowIamliketomakesomethingotheroftheethanIwasmindedtoatfirst：forIdeemthatthouartgoodenoughtobeaman。
　　Andifthouwiltnowaskaboonofme，ifitbenotovergreat，Iwillgrantitthee。”
　　Ralphputonekneetotheground，andsaid：“GreatLord，Ithankthee：butwhereasIaminanalienlandandseekinggreatthings，IknowofnogiftwhichImaytakeformyselfsaveleavetodepart，whichIdeemthouwiltnotgrantme。
　　Yetonethingthoumaystdoformyaskingifthouwilt。
　　IfthoubestillangrywiththecarlewhomIfirstunhorsed，Ipraytheepardonhimhisill-luck。”
　　“Ill-luck！”saidtheLord，“Why，Isawhimthathewasdownrightafraidofthee。Andifmymenaretogrowblenchersandsoft-heartswhatistodothen？Buttellme，Otter，whatisthenameofthiscarle？”
　　SaidOtter，“Redheadhehight，Lord。”SaidtheLord：“Andwhatlikeamanisheinafray？”“Naughtsoill，Lord。”saidOtter。
　　“Thistime，liketherestofus，heknewnotthisgear。
　　Itwerescarcegoodtomisshimatthenextpinch。
　　Itwereenoughifhehadthethongsoverhisbackafewdozentimes；
　　itwillnotbethefirstdayofsuchcheertohim。”
　　“Ha！”saidtheLord，“andwhatfor，Otter，whatfor？”
　　“Becausehewassomewhatrough-handed，Lord。”saidOtter。
　　“Thenshallweneedhimandusehimsomeday。Lethimgoscotfreeanddobetteranotherbout。Thereisthyboongrantedforthee，knight；andanotherdaythoumaystasksomethingmore。
　　AndnowshallDavidhaveacareofthee。AndwhenwecometoUtterbolweshallseewhatistobedonewiththee。”
　　ThenRalphroseupandthankedhim，andDavidcameforward，andledhimtohistent。Andhewaswheedlinginhiswaystohim，asifRalphwerenowbecomeonewhomightdohimgreatgoodifsohiswillwere。
　　ButtheLordwentbackagainintotheTower。
　　AstotheLady，sheabodeinherpavilionamidstmanyfearsanddesires，tillAgathaenteredandsaid：“MyLady，sofarallhasgonehappily。”
　　SaidtheLady：“Ideemedfromthenoiseandthecrythathewasdoingwell。
　　Buttellme，howdidhe？”“’MyLady。”quothAgatha，“heknockedourfolkaboutwell-favouredly，andseemedtothinklittleofit。”
　　“AndJoyce。”saidtheLady，“howdidshe？”“Shelookedaqueen，everyinchofher，andsheistall。”saidAgatha：“soothlysomefolkstaredonher，butnotmanyknewofher，sincesheisbutnewintoourhouse。Thoughitisamatterofcoursethatallsaveournew-comeknightknewthatitwasnotthouthatsatthere。
　　AndmyLordwaswell-pleased，andnowhehathtakenherbythehandandledherintotheTower。”
　　TheLadyreddenedandscowled，andsaid：“Andhe……didhecomeanighher？”
　　“Oyea。”saidAgatha，“whereashestoodbeforemyLordagoodwhile，andthenkneeledtohimtopraypardonforoneofourmenwhohaddoneillinthetilting：yea，hewasnighenoughtohertotouchherhadhedared，andtosmellthefragranceofherraiment。
　　Andheseemedtothinkitgoodtolookoutofthecornersofhiseyesather；thoughIdonotsaythatshesmiledonhim。”
　　TheLadysprangup，hercheeksburning，andwalkedaboutangrilyawhile，strivingforwords，tillatlastshesaid：“WhenwecomehometoUtterbol，mylordwillseehisnewthrallagain，andwillcareforJoycenowhit：
　　thenwillIhavemywillofher；andsheshalllearn，she，whetherI
　　amverilytheleastofwomenatUtterbol！Ha！whatsayestthou？
　　Nowwhywiltthoustandandsmileonme？——Yea，Iknowwhatisinthythought；
　　andinverysoothitisgoodthatthedearyounglinghathnotseenthisnewthrall，thisUrsula。Forsooth，ItelltheethatifIdursthaveherinmyhandsIwouldhaveatruetaleoutofherastowhyshewearetheverthatpairofbeadsaboutherneck。”
　　“Now，ourLady。”saidAgatha，“thouartmarringthefairnessofthyfaceagain。Ibidtheebeatpeace，forallshallbewell，andotherthanthoudeemest。Tellme，then，didstthougetourLordtoswearimmunityforme？”SaidtheLady：
　　“Yea，hesworeontheedgeoftheswordthatthoumightestsaywhatthouwouldst，andneitherhenoranyothershouldlayhandonthee。”
　　“Good。”saidAgatha；“thenwillIgotohimto-morrowmorning，whenJoycehasgonefromhim。Butnowholdupthineheart，andkeepcloseforthesetwodaysthatweshallyetabideinTowerDale：
　　andtrustmethisveryeveningIshallbegintosettidingsgoingthatshallworkandgrow，andshallonedayrejoicethineheart。”
　　Sofellthetalkbetwixtthem。