medst grown into a pretty man when I saw thee e'en-now before this
twilight made us all alike; but the men at thy back are not wont to be
led by men who have not earned a warrior's name, yet they follow thee:
how cometh that about? Again, before the twilight gathered I saw the
woman that rideth anigh us (who is now but a shadow) how fair and
gentle she is: indeed there is no marvel in her following thee (though
if she be an earl's daughter she is a fair getting for an imp of
Upmeads), for thou art a well shapen lad, little lord, and carriest a
sweet tongue in thy mouth. But tell me, what is she?"

"Brother," said Ralph kindly, "she is my wife."

"I kiss her hands," said Hugh; "but of what lineage is she?"

"She is my wife," said Ralph. Said Hugh: "That is, forsooth, a high
dignity." Said Ralph: "Thou sayest sooth, though in mockery thou
speakest, which is scarce kind to thine own mother's son: but learn,
brother, that I am become a Friend of the Well, and were meet to wed
with the daughters of the best of the Kings: yet is this one meeter to
wed with me than the highest of the Queens; for she also is a Friend of
the Well. Moreover, thou sayest it that the champions of the Dry Tree,
who would think but little of an earl for a leader, are eager to follow
me: and if thou still doubt what this may mean, abide, till in two days
or three thou see me before the foeman. Then shalt thou tell me how
much changed I am from the stripling whom thou knewest in Upmeads a
little while ago."

Then was Hugh somewhat abashed, and he said: "I crave thy pardon,
brother, but never had I a well filed tongue, and belike it hath grown
no smoother amid the hard haps which have befallen me of late. Besides
it was dull in there, and I must needs try to win a little mirth out of
kith and kin."

"So be it, lad," quoth Ralph kindly, "thou didst ask and I told, and
all is said."

"Yet forsooth," said Hugh, "thou hast given me marvel for marvel,
brother." "Even so," said Ralph, "and hereafter I will tell thee more
when we sit safe by the wine at Upmeads."

Now cometh back one of the fore-riders and draweth rein by Ralph and
saith that they are hard on a little thorp under the hanging of the
hill that was the beginning of the Down country on that road. So Ralph
bade make stay there and rest the night over, and seek new tidings on
the morrow; and the man told Ralph that the folk of the thorp were
fleeing fast at the tidings of their co