e. Christopher looked on the two joyfully, as a
man getting whole after sickness smiles on goodly things; and Joanna was
fair to see in her hunter's attire, with brogues tied to her naked feet,
and the shapeliness of her legs bare to the knee beneath the trussing up
of her green skirts.

They greeted Christopher kindly, and Joanna sat down by him to talk,
but Jack of the Tofts took his son by the arm, and went toward the house
with him in earnest speech.

CHAPTER XI. HOW CHRISTOPHER CAME TO LITTLEDALE TO ABIDE THERE A WHILE.

In about a week's time from this, those four fellows went their ways
southward from the Tofts, having with them four good nags and four
sumpter beasts laden with such things as they needed, whereof were
weapons enough, though they all, save Christopher, bare bows; and he
and the others were girt with swords, and a leash of good dogs followed
them. Two milch kine also they drave with them.

Merry they were all as they went their ways through the woods, but the
gladness of Christopher was even past words; wherefore, after a little,
he spake scarce at all, but sat in his saddle hearkening the tales and
songs and jests of his fellows, who went close beside him, for more
often they went a-foot than rode. And, forsooth, as the sweet morning
wore, it seemed to him, so great was his joy, as if all the fair show
of the greenery, and the boles of the ancient oaks, and the squirrels
running from bough to bough, and the rabbits scuttling from under the
bracken, and the hind leaping in the wood-lawn, and the sun falling
through the rustling leaves, and the wind on his face, and the scent of
the forest, yea, and his fair companions and their loveliness & valiancy
and kindness, and the words and songs that came from their dear mouths,
all these seemed to him, as it were, one great show done for the behoof
and pleasure of him, the man come from the peril of death and the
sick-bed.

They lay that night in all glee under the green boughs; and arose on the
morrow, and went all day, and again slept in the greenwood, and the
next morning came down into a fair valley, which was indeed Littledale,
through which ran a pleasant little river; and on a grassy knoll, but
a short way from its bank, was a long framed hall, somewhat narrow,
and nought high, whitherward they turned them straightway, and were
presently before the door; then Gilbert drew a key from out of his scrip
and unlocked the door, and they enter