Little knew Birdalone of worldly courtesy, or she had made him a
sharp answer belike; but she only looked on him ruefully, and said:
Good warrior, I am come a long way, and may not turn back from mine
errand; and I am now lacking victual and hungry, and if ye help me
not, it is like that I shall die. Much lieth on mine errand, if ye
knew it. She was weeping-ripe, but refrained her tears, though her
lip quivered. She stretched out her hands to the greybeard, and he
looked on her and found her exceeding fair; and he deemed her to be
guileless, both because of her simple speech and sweet voice, and the
goodliness of her face and eyes. But he said: Lady, thine errand
hath nought to do with it, it is thy womanhood that bars our door.
For all we are bound by oath not to suffer a woman to abide in this
castle till our lords take the bann off, and bid us open to women.
She smiled faintly, and said: If I might but see thy lords then,
since thou art not master here. He said: They are away, and will
not be back till to-morrow morning; and I wot not the hour of their
return.
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