Poor Gwennolaïk had a sad life with her stepmother. Noble as she was she was yet forced by the vindictive old woman to rise in the early hours of the morning, even two or three hours before daylight in winter, to light the fire and sweep the house and perform other menial work. One evening as she was breaking the ice in the well in order to draw water for the household she was interrupted by a cavalier returning to Nantes.
“Good e’en to you, maiden. Are you affianced to anyone?”
The girl did not reply, but hung her head.
“Come, don’t be afraid,” said the handsome horseman, “but answer my question.”
She looked at him almost fearfully. “Saving your grace, I have never been affianced to anyone.”
“Good,” replied the cavalier. “Take this gold ring and say to your stepmother that you are now affianced to a cavalier of Nantes who has been in a great battle and who has lost his squire in the combat; and you may also add that he has been wounded in the side by a sword-stroke. In three weeks and three days, when my wound is healed, I will return and will take you to my manor with joy and festival.”
The maiden returned to the house and looked at the ring. It was the same as her foster-brother used to wear on his left hand!
Three weeks ran by, but the cavalier did not return. Then the stepmother said one morning: “It is time, daughter, that you should marry, and I may tell you that I have found you a husband after my own heart.”
“Saving your grace, good stepmother, I do not wish to marry anyone except my foster-brother, who has returned. He has given me a golden wedding-ring, and has promised to come for me within a few days.”