noon
At daylight , warming themselves at a fire , Dunstan told Alric all that happened in the night . The Saxon 's stolid face did not change , but he was thoughtful and silent for some time , remembering how the Lady Goda had once had him beaten , long ago , because he had not held Sir Arnold 's horse in the right way when the knight was mounting . Presently Beatrix 's Norman tirewoman came to the two men , wrapped in a brown cloak with a hood that covered half her face . She told them that her lady knew of Sir Arnold 's coming , and begged of Sir Gilbert that for her sake he would walk by the river at noon , when every one would be at dinner in the camp , and she would try and meet him there . Gilbert waited long , for he went down early to the river , and he sat on a big stone sunning himself , for the air was keen , and there was a north wind . At last he saw two veiled women coming along the bank . The shorter one was a little lame and leaned upon the other 's arm , and the wind blew their cloaks before them as they came .