Delphi Works of Ford Madox Ford (Illustrated) by Ford Madox Ford Read Free Book Online

became grave:
    ‘But perhaps I ought to have thought before I gave the answer. Would it not have been better for my people if I had consented? for then he would kill no more of them.’
    But the Prince became quite angry at such an idea. ‘It’s absurd,’ he said. ‘Why, as soon as he had married you and become king he would murder you and then kill just as many of your people as he will now’; besides, who knows that we may not still conquer him?’
    The Princess turned to Lord Licec: ‘What do you say, my lord?’ she said. ‘I think just as the Prince of India — for even if he did not murder you he would oppress the people without mercy, and besides, your people would never allow you to marry him, so that is out of the question.’
    The Princess gave a sigh of relief. ‘Since you say so, Lord Licec, it must be right; besides, I don’t think I could ever marry him — he is such a very unpleasant sort of man.’
    And the Prince answered:
    ‘You are quite right there’; and he seemed quite happy again.
    Soon after it became evening, and Lord Licec had to go out to look after his army, and the Prince too went to see that his men were all prepared for any night attack — for his men were right in the very front of all, and so they were quite close to the enemy, who might at any time begin an attack.
    So the Princess was left all alone with the Owl, but she did not feel lonely with him, for he was very sociable, and would do anything that he was told to do. So they played hide-and-seek till it was too dark to see any more, and then she went to bed and slept soundly till the rays of the sun falling on her face the next morning woke her up. She was soon dressed, and when she had finished she went into the next room, where she found Lord Licec already awaiting her.
    ‘What does your Majesty intend to do this morning? for I shall not be with you, as I am going to order the army to advance to the attack, and so your Majesty had better stay within the town for the rest of the day.’
    ‘Indeed, I shall do nothing of the sort,’ she answered. ‘I am going to lead the army to-day to see if we cannot regain some ground, for I had rather die fighting than be driven back like this, so please don’t say I mustn’t go; besides, the Owl will protect me; he promised to; didn’t you, Owl?’ and the Owl nodded.
    ‘But they may shoot the Owl with their arrows, and then—’
    ‘But the Owl before now, has conquered Merrymineral himself, and he may still do it. Oh, please don’t tell me not to go. If you’ll only let me go I’ll promise to keep near the Prince of India, and he’ll protect me, even if the Owl can’t.’
    ‘But the Prince of India is always in the thickest of the fight, and you will be in much greater danger if you keep near him.’
    ‘Oh, never mind the danger; do let me go.’
    And she begged so hard that Lord Licec had to give in. She put on a breastplate and a sword, but she would not put on a helmet, for she said that it made her head ache, and that no one would know who she was if she covered her face up. So she only wore a gold circlet on her head, as she usually did, and besides this she carried a silver shield with the royal crest on it, and a small lance just like a knight’s spear, only not so heavy, and thus mounted on her white horse she rode to the very front of the line of battle, and there she found the Prince of India at the head of his men.
    They had already furled their tents and were quite ready to begin the battle as soon as the others were ready.
    The Prince was very much astonished when he saw her, for it was the last place in the world he had expected to see her in.
    ‘Do you really mean to say,’ he exclaimed, ‘that Lord Licec allowed you to come out to the field of battle? Why, he must be mad.’
    ‘Oh no, he’s not,’ answered the Princess: ‘but you see if I only beg hard enough he’ll let me do whatever I like, and then I promised to keep near you, for I thought