goodliness
and kindness. Now there lacketh nought but they should be wedded
straightway; and all is arrayed in the chapel; wherefore if this holy
man will come with us and do on his mass-hackle, our joy shall be
fulfilled; save that thereafter shall feast and merriment await all you
in this hall, and we shall be there to welcome all comers in this house
of Greenharbour, whereas this our gracious Lady has long abided so
happily."

Man looked on man here and there, and smiled a little as he spake, but
none said aught, for there were none save the Earl's servants there, and
a sort of poor wretches.

So therewithal they went their ways to the chapel where was the wedding
done as grandly as might be, considering they were in no grander place
than Greenharbour. And when all was done, and folk began to flow away
from the chapel, and Goldilind sat shamefaced but strangely happy in
a great stall of the choir, the Earl called Christopher unto him, and
said: "My lad, I deem that some great fortune shall betide thee since
already thou hast begun so luckily. But I beseech thee mar not thy
fortune by coming back with thy fair wife to the land of Meadham; or
else it may be thou shalt cast thy life away, and that will bring her
sorrow, as I can see well."

He spake this grimly, though he smiled as he spake. But he went on more
gently: "I will not send you twain away empty-handed; when ye go out
a-gates into the wide world, ye shall find two fair horses for your
riding, well bedight, and one with a woman's saddle; and, moreover,
a sumpter beast, not very lightly burdened, for on one side of him he
beareth achest wherein is, first of all, the raiment of my Lady, and
beneath it some deal of silver and gold and gems; but on the other
side is victual and drink for the way for you, and raiment for thee,
youngling. How sayest thou, is it well?"

"It is well, Lord," said Christopher; "yet would I have with me the
raiment wherewith I came hither, and my bow and my sax."

"Yea and wherefore, carle?" said Earl Geoffrey.

Said the youngling: "We be going to ride the wild-wood, and it might be
better for safety's sake that I be so clad as certain folk look to see
men ride there."

But he reddened as he spake; and the Earl said: "By Allhallows! but it
is not ill thought of; and, belike, the same-like kind of attire might
be better to hide the queenship of the Lady from the wood-folk than that
which now she weareth?"

"True is that, Lord,