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TO THE TIRING-ROOM. 157
need in the way of rest, refreshment, or garments '{
She
will sit at the feast with us to-night, I trust."
" If she likes, most certainly, my lord," replied the
queen, beckoning to one of the bower-maidens. " You
heard the king's orders, Alicia ;
see that they are obeyed."
"Yes, your majesty," replied the girl, signing to
Rhoda to follow her ;
but again the king interfered :
" And we shall see thee in the hall to-night, f*ir
lady?"
" Yes, sir the :
gentleman you call Sir Pereivale asked
me to sit beside him at the table, and
"
he began
Rhoda and stopped confused, for the two ladies were
staring at her with such strange looks that she feared to
have said something wrong.
" Sir Percivale chose thee for his lady at the feast
"
and in the dance, child ! exclaimed the queen at last.
" Yes, ma'am ;
and he is going to wear a rose as a sign
that it is so, because my name is Rhoda, and he says that
means a rose," said the child, trembling at her own
daring.
" I had intended to give Sir Percivale to Ygonde the
Fair, and Sir Galahad to thee, Isolde," exclaimed the
queen pettishly. "He might at least have asked thy
pleasure, my lord, even though mine was of no account."
"I^ay then, dame,
I think he hath chosen well
enow," replied the king emiling. "Thou wilt not
marry thy favorite Ygonde with my Sii Percivale just
yet ;
and our little guest, Rhoda, since that is her name,