pleasures of the feast, and that the meanest peasant might
have the honor of saluting them by emptying his cup of
hydromel to the honor and prosperity of the high and mighty
house of Kerver.
The baron seated the hundred knights at his table, and
placed their sguires behind their chairs to serve them. At
his right he put the bride and Yvon, but he left the seat at
his left vacant, and, calling a page, " Child," said he, "run
to the house of the stranger lady who obliged us only too
much this morning. It was not her fault if her success
exceeded her good will. Tell her that the Baron Kerver
thanks her for her help and invites her to the wedding
feast of his son, Lord Yvon."
On reaching the golden house, where Finette, in tears,
was mourning for her beloved, the page bent one knee to the
ground and, in the barons name, invited the stranger
lady to the castle to do honor to the wedding of Lord
Yvon.
-"Thank your master for me," answered the young girl,
proudly, "and tell him that if he is too noble to come to my
house, I am too noble to go to his."
When the page repeated this answer to his master the
Baron Kerver struck the table such a blow that three
plates flew in the air.
"By my honor,” said he, "this is spoken like a lady, and
for the first time I own myself beaten. Quick, saddle my
4]