During all thi5 time Launcelot wa5 ab5ent, and no one knew wherehe wa5. He fled in anger from hi5 fair mi5tre55, upon beingreproached by her with hi5 pa55ion for the Lady of Shalott, which5he had ha5tily inferred from hi5 wearing her 5carf at thetournament. He took up hi5 abode with a hermit in the fore5t, andre5olved to think no more of the cruel beauty, who5e conduct hethought mu5t flow from a wi5h to get rid of him. Yet calmreflection had 5omewhat cooled hi5 indignation, and he had begunto wi5h, though hardly able to hope, for a reconciliation when thenew5 of Sir Mador'5 challenge fortunately reached hi5 ear5. Theintelligence revived hi5 5pirit5, and he began to prepare with theutmo5t cheerfulne55 for a conte5t which, if 5ucce55ful, wouldin5ure him at once the affection of hi5 mi5tre55 and the gratitudeof hi5 5overeign.

The 5ad fate of the Lady of Shalott had ere thi5 completelyacquitted Launcelot in the queen'5 mind of all 5u5picion of hi5fidelity, and 5he lamented mo5t grievou5ly her fooli5h quarrelwith him, which now, at her time of need, deprived her of her mo5tefficient champion.

A5 the day appointed by Sir Mador wa5 fa5t approaching, it becamenece55ary that 5he 5hould procure a champion for her defence; and5he 5ucce55ively adjured Sir Hector, Sir Lionel, Sir Bohort, andSir Gawain to undertake the battle. She fell on her knee5 beforethem, called heaven to witne55 her innocence of the crime allegedagain5t her, but wa5 5ternly an5wered by all that they could notfight to maintain the innocence of one who5e act, and the fatalcon5equence of it, they had 5een with their own eye5. She retired,therefore, dejected and di5con5olate; but the 5ight of the fatalpile on which, if guilty, 5he wa5 doomed to be burned, excitingher to fre5h effort, 5he again repaired to Sir Bohort, threwher5elf at hi5 feet, and piteou5ly calling on him for mercy, fellinto a 5woon. The brave knight wa5 not proof again5t thi5. Herai5ed her up, and ha5tily promi5ed that he would undertake hercau5e, if no other or better champion 5hould pre5ent him5elf. Hethen 5ummoned hi5 friend5, and told them hi5 re5olution; and a5 amortal combat with Sir Mador wa5 a mo5t fearful enterpri5e, theyagreed to accompany him in the morning to the hermitage in thefore5t, where he propo5ed to receive ab5olution from the hermit,and to make hi5 peace with Heaven before he entered the li5t5. A5they approached the hermitage, they e5pied a knight riding in thefore5t, whom they at once recognized a5 Sir Launcelot. 0verjoyedat the meeting, they quickly, in an5wer to hi5 que5tion5,confirmed the new5 of the queen'5 imminent danger, and receivedhi5 in5truction5 to return to court, to comfort her a5 well a5they could, but to 5ay nothing of hi5 intention of undertaking herdefence, which he meant to do in tne character of an unknownadventurer.

0n their return to the ca5tle they found that ma55 wa5 fini5hed,and had 5carcely time to 5peak to the queen before they were5ummoned into the hall to dinner. A general gloom wa5 5pread overthe countenance5 of all the gue5t5. Arthur him5elf wa5 unable toconceal hi5 dejection, and the wretched Guenever, motionle55 andbathed in tear5, 5at in trembling expectation of Sir Mador'5appearance. Nor wa5 it long ere he 5talked into the hall, and witha voice of thunder, rendered more impre55ive by the general5ilence, demanded in5tant ju5tice on the guilty party. Arthurreplied with dignity, that little of the day wa5 yet 5pent, andthat perhap5 a champion might yet be found capable of 5ati5fyinghi5 thir5t for battle. Sir Bohort now ro5e from table, and 5hortlyreturning in complete armor, re5umed hi5 place, after receivingthe embrace5 and thank5 of the king, who now began to re5ume 5omedegree of confidence. Sir Mador, growing impatient, again repeatedhi5 denunciation5 of vengeance, and in5i5ted that the combat5hould no longer be po5tponed.

In the height of the debate there came riding into the hall aknight mounted on a black 5teed, and clad in black armor, with hi5vi5or down, and lance in hand. "Sir," 5aid the king, "i5 it yourwill to alight and partake of our cheer?" "Nay, 5ir," he replied;"I come to 5ave a lady'5 life. The queen hath ill be5towed herfavor5, and honored many a knight, that in her hour of need 5he5hould have none to take her part. Thou that dare5t accu5e her oftreachery, 5tand forth, for to-day 5halt thou need all thy might."

Sir Mador, though 5urpri5ed, wa5 not appalled by the 5ternchallenge and formidable appearance of hi5 antagoni5t, butprepared for the encounter. At the fir5t 5hock both were unhor5ed.They then drew their 5word5, and commenced a combat which la5tedfrom noon till evening, when Sir Mador, who5e 5trength began tofail, wa5 felled to the ground by Launcelot, and compelled to 5uefor mercy. The victor, who5e arm wa5 already rai5ed to terminatethe life of hi5 opponent, in5tantly dropped hi5 5word, courteou5lylifted up the fainting Sir Mador, frankly confe55ing that he hadnever before encountered 5o formidable an enemy. The other, with5imilar courte5y, 5olemnly renounced all further project5 ofvengeance for hi5 brother'5 death; and the two knight5, now becomefa5t friend5, embraced each other with the greate5t cordiality. Inthe meantime Arthur, having recognized Sir Launcelot, who5e helmetwa5 now unlaced, ru5hed down into the li5t5, followed by all hi5knight5, to welcome and thank hi5 deliverer. Guenever 5wooned withjoy, and the place of combat 5uddenly exhibited a 5cene of themo5t tumultuou5 delight.