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THE QUEEN OF LOVE AND BEAUTY. 179
that she could not see the knight, who hesitated for a
moment, waiting to catch her eve. No longer ahle to
doubt that she intended to slight him and his offering,
Lancelot raised his head proudly erect, recovered his
drooping lance, and rode on, bowing profoundly as he
passed the king, but never looking again at the haughty
queen, whose rich color faded, and whose blue eyes
sparkled with anger, although she still feigned to be too
busy to look toward him.
"Doyousee that, lady Ermengarde?" eagerly murmured
Isolde, leaning across Bhoda to speak to her
companion.
" The queen Jffi* Lancelot before all the
court, and some of us poor mortals must be his choice,
and wear the crown. See, here he comes !"
And both ladies bent their eyes upon Lancelot, who,
no longer careless and gay, but with a fixed and scornful
smile upon his lips, rode on, fretting his horse with the
spur, and at the same time checking him with the curb,
so that he bounded, curvetted, and caracoled in a manner
that would have made it difficult for a less experienced
rider to retain his seat.
Lancelot, hardly seeming to remember that he was
upon horseback, carelessly allowed his eyes to roam over
the crowded benches. Meeting the Lady Isolde's pointed
regard and smile, he bowed, and then his eyes passing
on to Bhoda's eager little face, a gentler look
came over his own, and suddenly lowering his lance
he laid the crown upon her lap, bowing at the same