May was on the land now, and was come into its second week, andGoldilind awoke on a morn in the Castle of Greenharbour; but little didher eyes behold of the May, even when they were fully open; for she waslying, not in her own chamber, which was proper, and even somewhatstately, and from whence she could look on the sky and greenwood, but ina chamber low down amidst the footings of the wall, little lighted,unadorned, with nought in it for sport or pleasure; nought, forsooth, savethe pallet bed on which she lay, a joint stool and water ewer. To be short,though it were called the Least Guard-chamber, it was a prison, and shewas there dreeing her penance, as Dame Elinor would call the cruelty ofher malice, which the chaplain, Dame Elinor's led captain, had ordainedher for some sin which the twain had forged between them.
She lay there naked in her smock, with no raiment anigh her, and thiswas the third morning whereon she had awakened to the dusky bare walls,and a long while had their emptiness made of the hours: but she lay quietand musing, not altogether without cheer now; for indeed she was notwont to any longer penance than this she had but now tholed, so shelooked for release presently: and, moreover, there had grown in her mindduring those three days a certain purpose; to wit, that she would get holdof the governor of the castle privily, and two or three others of the squireswho most regarded her, and bewail her case to them, so that she mightperchance get some relief. Forsooth, as she called to mind this resolve,her heart beat and her cheek flushed, for well she knew that there was perilin it, and she forecast what might be the worst that would come thereof,while, on the other hand, the best that might be seemed to her like aglimpse of Paradise.
As she lay there and turned the matter over in her mind for this manyan hundred time, there came a key into the lock, and the door opened; andthereby entered a tall woman, dark-haired, white-skinned, somewhat young, and not ill-favoured: Goldilind still lay there, till the new-comersaid to her in a hard voice, wherein was both threatening and mockery:"Rise up, our Lady! the Dame Elinor saith that it is enough, and that thouart to go forth. Nay, hold a while; for I say unto thee that it is yet early inthe day, and that thy chamber is not yet dight for thee, so thou must needsbestow thyself elsewhere till it be done."