Page 251 - A Knight of the White Cross

she could bestow so high a favour, with the confidence that it would be
ever borne with credit and honour."

"What shall I give him, mother?" Claudia asked the countess, without a

shadow of the embarrassment with which Gervaise had spoken.

"Not a kerchief, Claudia. In the rough work of the knights, it could not be

kept without spot or stain. Moreover, if I judge Sir Gervaise rightly,
methinks he would prefer some token that he could wear without exciting

attention and remark from his comrades. Go, fetch him any of your jewels
you may think fit."

"Then I will give him this," the girl said; and unfastening a thin gold chain
she wore round her neck, she pulled up a heart shaped ornament, in pink

coral set in gold and pearls.

Her mother uttered a low exclamation of dissent.

"I know, mother; it was your last gift, and I prize it far beyond anything I

have; therefore, it is all the more fit to be my token." Then she turned to
Gervaise, and went on, without the slightest tremor in her voice, or
accession of colour in her cheeks. "Sir Gervaise Tresham, I bestow upon

you this my favour, and shall deem it an honour indeed to know that it is
borne by one so brave and worthy. You said that you would be glad to be

one of those who bore my favours. You will be more than that, for I vow to
you that while you live no other knight shall wear a favour of mine."

"Claudia!" her mother said disapprovingly.

"I know what I am saying, mother. I have often wondered why maidens
should so carelessly bestow their favours upon every knight who begged
for them, and have said to myself that when my time came I would grant it

but once, and only then to one whom I deemed worthy of it in all ways -­
one in whose loyalty and honour I could trust implicitly, and who would

regard it as something sacred, deeming it an honour to wear it, as being the
pledge of my trust and esteem. Kneel, Sir Gervaise, while I fasten this