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150 MOONFOLK.
power, and that it was by
its aid that Arthur had sc
easily proved victor in every battle where he had personally
fought.
But after the first glance, Rhoda looked neither at
the golden armor, nor the dragon crest, nor Excalibur,
but fixed her eyes upon the face of the king, which
seemed to her more beautiful than the face of man,
with its bright blue eyes, and golden hair and beard,
and the look of strength, and nobleness, and goodness
which beamed from every line. As he approached, the
knights drew back a little, and the Lady Isolde would
have dismounted to offer her homage, but the king prevented
her. He spoke a few courteous words of welcome
in a voice so full of majesty and sweetness, not
without a touch of sadness, that all little Ehoda's heart
went out to him, and she would have given much to kiss
his hand as did the Lady Isolde, who insisted upon thus
rendering her homage.
Then the king asked the meaning of the lady's
strange plight, and she told her story, and how all that
she knew of Rhoda was the finding her with Sir Lancelot
in the wood ;
but the king, looking kindly at the child,
said:
" Do not fear, my little maid, but that your friend
Sir Lancelot will find you out right soon ;
meantime
you shall with this lady be the guest of my wife, Dame
Guinevere, who waits for us at Camelot. Sir Percivale,
shall the demoiselle ride with you And ? Lady Isolde,