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156 MOONFOLK.
woman of her time.
Her bower-maidens were standing
at her back, and Lady Isolde seated upon a low stool near
at hand, while the king, leaning upon his sheathed sword,
stood talking gayly with them both.
As Khoda entered the door and paused, uncertain
what to do next, the king came forward, and taking
her by the hand, led her to the queen, saying :
"Here, dame,
is our Lancelot's little friend. Be
good to her for his sake, and her own, and mine."
" For all sakes she is welcome," replied the queen
graciously, extending her hand to Rhoda, who placed
her own in it, as in the act of shaking hands, then withdrew
it ; the queen looked surprised, the Lady Isolde
smiled scornfully, and the king said :
" Dost not thou care to kiss the queen's hand when
"
it is
given thee, little one ?
"
Oh ! I didn't know she wanted me to," replied
the hand
Khoda, blushing scarlet, and trying to regain
she had dropped ;
but the queen, withholding it, coldly
said :
"'You are excused, demoiselle.
No doubt you come
from some heathen land where such observances are unknown-
And so, Isolde, thou didst leave Sir Lancelot
fighting with a wild boar?"
The lady replied, and neither took further notice of
Rhoda until the king said :
" Dame Guinevere, wilt not thou give orders to one
of these thy maidens, to see what our little guest may