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DAME KATE PROVEN.
187
marry you, Sir Craddocke," sobbed the lady, and covering
her crimson face with her hands she began to cry ;
but her husband, snatching the mantle from her shoulders,
folded his arms about her, and kissing
her before the
whole court, he exclaimed :
" Well, then, Dame Kate, since that is thine only
falsehood, and that was acted for love of me, it is not
for me to chide thee or value thee the less for it; so
come and sit thee down again, and watch the play out."
But as Sir Craddocke tenderly led his dame back to
her seat, the boy, shaking and turning the mantle, sang
:
"
Who cheats her father and her mother.
Even for true love's sake,
May cheat her lover for another,
And holiest vows may break."
The fiery knight did not hear the warning, which
would certainly have made him angry; and Sir Percivale,
kindly wishing to turn the attention of the whispering
crowd from Dame Kate, rose, and taking the
mantle from the boy, brought the mantle to Ehoda,
saying:
" Dear little Hose, you will not refuse to allow me to
put the mantle about you for ; surely one so young, and
wearing such a look of truth and purity, can have done
no wrong."
But Rhoda, springing from her chair, stepped backward
in alarm, crying
:
"No, no! Don't put it on me. I have told wrong