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SIR PERCIVALES CHOICE. 155
a Very well, sir; if jou like, I will give YOU a rose,
though it is not mine to give; and I don't know whether
the king would like to have me take flowers out of his
vases," replied Bhoda so gravely
that Sir Pertivale
laughed aloud. Leading her close to one of the great
dragon vases that stood all around the hall, he said :
" Fear nothing, most obedient of subjects.
The king
permits more than such a theft as this, to a lady."
So encouraged, Rhoda pulled a beautiful half-blown
rose from the vase, and shyly gave
it to Sir Percivale,
who took it with a low bow, saying :
" When I have left thee with our lady the queen, I
shall go to my own lodgings and change this heavy armor
for a silken doublet, and upon the breast of it I shall
clasp thy token, as thou wilt see."
At this moment a page dressed in the queen's livery
approached, and bowing reverently to Sir Percivale,
said :
I am sent by my lord the king to lead this lady to
the queen's apartments, whither he has already gone
with the Lady Isolde of Escourt."
" That is well ;
and I will conduct thee as far as the
door, my little Khoda, before I go to mine own apartment,"
said Sir Percivale, offering his hand, in which
Rhoda placed her own. So conducted, and led by the
page, she passed on through the hall, and up a wide,
richly carved staircase to a sumptuous chamber, where
upon a chair of state sat Qneen Guinevere, the loveliest