dings. They brought also bowls and
pitchers of wine that was good and strong, and cider of their orchards,
and called many a health to the new Lord and his kindred.

Thus then they abode a-feasting till the sun was westering and the
shadows waxed about them, and then at last Ralph rose up and called to
horse, and the other wayfarers arose also, and the horses were led up
to them. Then the maidens, made bold by the joy of the feast, and
being stirred to the heart by much beholding of this beloved Lord, cast
off their shamefacedness and crowded about him, and kissed his raiment
and his hands: some even, though trembling, and more for love than
fear, prayed him for kisses, and he, nothing loath, laughed merrily and
laid his hands on their shoulders or took them by the chins, and set
his lips to the sweetness of their cheeks and their lips, of those that
asked and those that refrained; so that their hearts failed them for
love of him, and when he was gone, they knew not how to go back to
their houses, or the places that were familiar to them. Therewith he
and his got into their saddles and rode away slowly, because of the
thronging about them of that folk, who followed them to the edge of the
wood, and even entered a little thereinto; and then stood gazing on
Ralph and his fellows after they had spurred on and were riding down a
glade of the woodland.

CHAPTER 17

They Fall in With That Hermit

So much had they tarried over this greeting and feasting, that though
they had hoped to have come to the hermit's house that night, he of
whom that folk had told them, it fell not so, whereas the day had aged
so much ere they left the Plain of Abundance that it began to dusk
before they had gone far, and they must needs stay and await the dawn
there; so they dight their lodging as well as they might, and lay down
and slept under the thick boughs.

Ralph woke about sunrise, and looking up saw a man standing over him,
and deemed at first that it would be Richard or the Sage; but as his
vision cleared, he saw that it was neither of them, but a new comer; a
stout carle clad in russet, with a great staff in his hand and a
short-sword girt to his side. Ralph sprang up, still not utterly
awake, and cried out, "Who art thou, carle?" The man laughed, and
said: "Yea, thou art still the same brisk lad, only filled out to
something more warrior-like than of old. But it is unmeet to forget
old friends. Why dost thou not hail me