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1 88 MOONFOLK.
stories ever so
many times when I was little, and I am
"
afraid !
" But none since you were old enough
to know
right from wrong, surely " ? asked the knight gravely.
I^---o, sir that is, I don't remember any," said
lihoda " faintly. But I'm afraid those will count."
" Oh, no, they were but childish errors, and are past,"
persisted Sir Percivale, throwing the cloak about her ;
but before it touched her shoulders, the boy snatched it
and replaced it in his basket, singing as he did so :
" Childish falsehoods may stain the child,
But pass when she is older grown :
Maid, if you live true, pure, and mild,
The mantle yet shall be your own."
Then, without waiting for further question or remark,
he took from the basket a curiously wrought drinkinghorn
of ivory, inlaid with silver, and supported upon
three feet of the same metal. This the boy filled with
wine from one of the great flagons upon the table, and
holding it toward the king, said :
" Here is what shall show, O king, the true courage
and temper of these your knights and courtiers; for
never coward or traitor can drink from it, let him try
his best."
" Say you so " ? cried the king pleasantly.
" Thee
shall you, my Lancelot, drink from it first ;
for all men
know you as the flower of knighthood, and bravest, even