The greeting of the master of the house being over, the Maid threw off for a moment the grave dignity of her bearing throughout this trying day, and became a simple girl again.  With a quick grace of movement she crossed the space which divided her from the little child, and kneeling suddenly down, took the wondering little one in her arms, and held her in a close embrace.

“Ma petite, ma mie, ma tres chere,” those nearest heard her murmur.  “Love me, darling, love me!  I have a little sister at home who loves me, but I had to go away and leave her.  Perhaps I may never see her again.  Try to love me instead, and comfort my heart, for sometimes I am very, very weary, and hungry for the love that I have lost!”

Now, one might have thought that so young a child—­for she was not more than eight years old, and small for her years—­would have been affrighted at the sudden approach of the shining warrior, about whom so many stories had been told, and who looked more like the Archangel Michael, as many thought, than a creature of human flesh and blood.  But instead of showing any fear, the child flung her arms about the neck of the Maid, and pressed kisses upon her face—­her headpiece she had removed at her entrance—­and when the mother would have loosened her hold, and sent the child away with her attendant, little Charlotte resisted, clinging to her new friend with all her baby strength, and the Maid looked pleadingly up into the kindly face of the lady, and said: 

“Ah, madame, I pray you let her remain with me.  It is so long since I felt the arms of a child about my neck!”

And so the little one stayed to the banquet, and was given the place of honour beside the Maid.  But neither of these twain had any relish for the dainty meats and rich dishes served for us.  As on the march, so now in the walls of the city, the Maid fared as simply as the rudest of her soldiers.  She mixed water with her wine, took little save a slice or two of bread, and though to please her hosts she just touched one or two specially prepared dishes, it was without any real relish for them, and she was evidently glad when she was able to make excuse to leave the table and go to the room prepared for her.

But here again she showed her simple tastes, for when the great guest chamber was shown her she shrank a little at its size and luxury, and, still holding the child’s hand in hers, she turned to the mother who was in attendance and said: 

“I pray you, sweet lady, let me whilst I am your guest share the room of this little daughter of yours.  I am but a simple country girl, all this grandeur weighs me down.  If I might but sleep with this little one in my arms—­as the little sister at home loved to lie—­I should sleep so peacefully and have such happy dreams!  Ah, madame!—­let me have my will in this!”