before the gate they saw a barrier of big beams
also, and the gleaming of armour therein. Ralph was glad when he saw
that they meant some defence; for though Wulstead was not in the lands
of Upmeads, yet it was always a friendly neighbour, and he looked to
eke out his host therein.

Wulstead standeth on a little hill or swelling of the earth, and the
road that the company of Ralph took went up to the gate across the
plain meadows, which had but here and there a tree upon them, so that
the going of the company was beheld clearly from the gate; as was well
seen, because anon came the sound of the blowing of great horns, and
the spears thickened in the towers. Then Ralph stayed his company two
bowshots from the barriers, while he himself, with his sword in his
sheath, took Ursula's hand and set forth an easy pace toward the gate.
Some of his company, and specially Roger and Stephen, would have letted
him; but he laughed and said, "Why, lads, why? these be friends."
"Yea," quoth Roger, "but an arrow knoweth no kindred nor well-willers:
have a care, lord." Said the Sage of Swevenham: "Ye speak but after
the folly of men of war; the hands and the eyes that be behind the bows
have other hands and eyes behind them which shall not suffer that a
Friend of the Well shall be hurt."

So Ralph and Ursula went forth, and came within a stone's cast of the
barrier, when Ralph lifted up his voice and said: "Is there a captain
of the townsfolk within the timber there?" A cheery voice answered him:
"Yea, yea, lad; spare thy breath; I am coming to thee."

And therewith a man came from out the barrier and did off his headpiece
and ran straight toward Ralph, who saw at once that it was Clement
Chapman; he made no more ado, but coming up to Ralph fell to clipping
him in his arms, while the tears ran down his face. Then he stood
aloof and gazed upon him speechless a little while, and then spake:
"Hail, and a hundred times hail! but now I look on thee I see what hath
betid, and that thou art too noble and high that I should have cast
mine arms about thee. But now as for this one, I will be better
mannered with her."

Therewith he knelt down before Ursula, and kissed her feet, but
reverently. And she stooped down and raised him up, with a merry
countenance kissed his face, and stroked his cheeks with her hand and
said: "Hail, friend of my lord! Was it not rather thou than he who
delivered me from the pain and shame of Utterbol, wherea