“Is that my sunbeam coming home to roost?” which made Gauvain and the knight both laugh.

Then the mother came out in haste to welcome the stranger; and she treated him with honor, giving him the best place at the table and the hottest cakes.

She and little Gauvain lived all alone, for the father had gone to the wars when Gauvain was a baby, and had died fighting for the king.

She had cows, horses, and pigs, hens, chickens, and a dog and a cat, and one treasure greater than a kingdom, for she had a good child in her house.

Sir Tristram found this out very soon, for little Gauvain ran when he was called, remembered the cat and dog when he had eaten his own supper, and went to bed when he was told, without fretting, although the knight was telling of lions and bears and battles, and everything that little boys like to hear about.

Sir Tristram was so glad of this that he could scarcely wait for the time to come when he should meet his comrades under the oak tree.

[Illustration:  And the mother called from the kitchen—­’Is that my sunbeam coming home to roost?’]

“I have found a child whom you must see,” he said, as soon as they came together.

“And so have I,” cried Gerald the Glad.

“And I,” exclaimed Kenneth the Kind.

“And I,” said Brian the Brave.

“And I,” said Percival the Pure; and they looked at each other in astonishment.

“I do not know the child’s name,” continued Gerald the Glad; “but as I was riding in the forest I heard some one singing the merriest song!  And when I looked through the trees I saw a little boy bending under a heavy burden.  I hastened to help him, but when I reached the spot he was gone.  I should like to hear him sing again.”

“I rode by the highway,” said Sir Brian the Brave, “and I came suddenly upon a crowd of great, rough fellows who were trying to torment a small black dog; and just as I saw them, a little boy ran up, as brave as a knight, and took the dog in his arms, and covered it with his coat.  The rest ran away when I rode up; but the child stayed, and told me his name—­Gauvain.”

“Why!” exclaimed Kenneth the Kind, “he is the boy who brings wood and water for Granny Slowsteps.  I tarried all night at her cottage, and she told me of his kindness.”

“I saw a lad at the spring near by,” said Percival the Pure.  “He hurried to fill his bucket, and some rude clown muddied the water as the child reached down; but he spoke no angry words, and waited patiently till the water was clear again.  I should like to find his home and see him there.”

Now Sir Tristram had waited to hear them all; but when Sir Percival had finished, he arose and cried:—­

“Come, and I will carry you to the child!” And when the knights followed him, he led them to the home where little Gauvain was working with his mother, as happy as a lark and as gentle as a dove.