as if naught had been done that they looked not for. But thereafter
cried Roger from the dais: "This is the token that the men of the Dry
Tree are met for matters of import; thus is the Mote hallowed. Come up
hither, ye aliens, and ye also of the fellowship, that the oath may be
sworn, and we may go our ways, even as the alien captain biddeth."

Then Ralph took Ursula's hand again, and went up the hall calmly and
proudly, and the champions followed with Richard and the Sage. Ralph
and Ursula went up on to the dais, and he set down Ursula in the stone
high-seat, and even in the halldusk a right fair-coloured picture she
looked therein; for she was clad in a goodly green gown broidered with
flowers, and a green cloak with gold orphreys over it; her hair was
spread abroad over her shoulders, and on her head was a garland of
roses which the women of the Flower de Luce had given her; so there she
sat with her fair face, whence now all the wrinkles of trouble and fear
were smoothed out, looking like an image of the early summer-tide
itself. And the champions looked on her and marvelled, and one
whispered to the other that it was their Lady of aforetime come back
again; only Roger, who had now gone back to the rest of the fellowship,
cast his eyes upon the ground, and muttered.

Now Ralph draws his sword, and lays it naked on the stone table, and he
stood beside Ursula and said: "Champions of the Dry Tree, by the blade
of Upmeads which lieth here before me, and by the head which I love
best in the world, and is best worthy of love" (and herewith he laid
his hand on Ursula's head), "I swear that whensoever the Captain of the
Dry Tree calleth on me, whether I be eating or drinking, abed or
standing on my feet, at peace or at war, glad or sorry, I shall do my
utmost to come to his aid straightway with whatso force I may gather.
Is this rightly sworn, Champions?"

Said Stephen a-Hurst: "It is sworn well and knightly, and now cometh
our oath."

"Nay," said Ralph, "I had no mind to drive a bargain with you; your
deeds shall prove you; and I fear not for your doughtiness."

Said Stephen: "Yea, Lord; but he bade us swear to thee. Reach me thy
sword, I pray thee."

Then Ralph reached him his sword across the great stone table, and
Stephen took it, and kissed the blade and the hilts; and then lifted up
his voice and said: "By the hilts and the blade, by the point and the
edge, we swear to follow the Lord Ralph of Upmeads f