in the apple trees were blossoming, and Goldilind spread abroad
her hands and lifted up her head for joy of the sight and the scent, and
they stayed awhile before they went on to the door, which was half open,
for they feared none in that place, and looked for none whom they might
not deal with if he came as a foe.

Christopher would have taken a hand of her to lead her in, but both
hands were in her gown to lift up the hem as she passed over the
threshold; so he durst not.

Fair and bright now was the hall within, with its long and low windows
goodly glazed, a green halling on the walls of Adam and Eve and the
garden, and the good God walking therein; the sun shone bright through
the southern windows, and about the porch it was hot, but further toward
the dais cool and pleasant.

So Goldilind sat down in the coolest of the place at the standing table;
but Christopher bestirred himself, and brought wine and white bread, and
venison and honey, and said: "I pray thee to dine, maiden, for it is
now hard on noon; and as for my fair fellows, I look not for them before
sunset for they were going far into the wood."

She smiled on him, and ate and drank a little deal, and he with her.
Sooth to say, her heart was full, and though she had forgotten her fear,
she was troubled, because, for as glad as she was, she could not be as
glad as her gladness would have her, for the sake of some lack, she knew
not what.

Now spake Christopher: "I would tell thee something strange, to wit,
though it is little more than three hours since I first saw thee beside
the river, yet I seem to know thee as if thou wert a part of my life."

She looked on him shyly, and he went on: "This also is strange, and,
withal, it likes me not, that when I speak of my fair fellows here,
David, and Gilbert, and Joanna, they are half forgotten to my heart,
though their names are on my tongue; and this house, doth it like thee,
fair guest?"

"Yea, much," she said; "it seems joyous to me: and I shall tell thee
that I have mostly dwelt in unmerry houses, though they were of greater
cost than this."

Said Christopher: "To me it hath been merry and happy enough; but now it
seems to me as if it had all been made for thee and this meeting."

"Is it therefore no longer merry to thee because of that?" she said,
smiling, yet flushing much red therewith. Now it was his turn not to
answer her, and she cast down her eyes before him, and there was silence
between the