here it was still light; then the Dame turned round on Ralph and
caught him by the two arms and cried out and cast her arms about his
neck; and when she could sunder herself a little from him, she said: "O
Ralph, I deemed that I knew thy voice, but I durst not halse thee till
I knew it was mine own flesh and blood, lest I should have died for
grief to think it was thee when it was not. O son, how fair thou art!
Now do off thy sallet that I may see thee, thy face and thy curly head."

So did he, smiling as one who loved her, and again she fell to kissing
and clipping him. Then his father came up and thrust her aside gently
and embraced him also, and said: "Tell me, son, what thou are become?
Thou art grown much of a man since thou stolest thyself away from me.
Is there aught behind this goodly raiment of thine? And this fair
lady, hath she stolen thee away from thy foes to bring thee home to us?"

Ralph laughed and said: "No less than that, father; I will tell thee
all presently; but this first, that I am the captain of a goodly
company of men-at-arms; and"----"Ah, son, sweetheart," said his mother,
"and thou wilt be going away from us again to seek more fame: and yet,
as I look on thee thou seemest to have grown great enough already. I
deem thou wilt not leave us."

"Mother, my dear," said Ralph, "to-morrow morn we shall go down to
battle in Upmeads, and the day after I shall come hither again, and
bring you back to the High House with all honour and glory. But look,
mother," and he took Ursula's hand, "here is a daughter and a darling
that I have brought back to thee, for this is my wedded wife."

Then Ursula looked beseechingly at the Dame, who took her in her arms
and clipped her and kissed her; and said, "Welcome, daughter; for I
feel thy body that thou lovest me."

Then said King Peter; "Forsooth, son, she is a sweet and dainty
creature. If there be a fairer than her, I wot not; but none so fair
have mine eyes looked on. Tell me whose daughter she is, and of what
lineage?" And therewith he took her hand and kissed her.

But Ursula said: "I am come of no earl or baron. I am a yeoman's
daughter, and both my father and my mother are dead, and I have no nigh
kin save one brother who loveth me not, and would heed it little if he
never saw my face again. Now I tell thee this: that if my lord
biddeth me go from him, I will depart; but for the bidding of none else
will I leave him."

King Peter laughed