for thine helping. Be of good cheer; for thine house shall not wane,
but wax." And all those four were full of joy and their hearts were
raised aloft.

But as they spake thus came a lay-brother and bent the knee before King
Peter and bade him and the Dame of Upmeads to supper in the name of the
Prior, and the Captain and the Lady therewith; for indeed the rumour of
the coming of an host for the helping of the countryside had gotten
into that House, and the Prior and the brethern sorely desired to look
upon the Captain, not knowing him for Ralph of Upmeads. So into the
Hall they went together, and there the holy fathers made them great
feast and joy; and King Peter might not refrain him, but told the Prior
how this was his son come back from far lands, with the goodly Lady he
had won to wife therein; and the Prior and all the fathers made much of
Ralph, and rejoiced in their hearts when they saw how goodly a man of
war he had gotten to be. And the Prior would lead him on to tell him
of the marvels he had seen in the far parts of the world; but Ralph
said but little thereon, whereas his thought was set on the days that
lay even before his feet; yet some deal he told him of the uncouth
manners of the lands beyond Whitwall, and at last he said: "Father,
when the battles be over here, and there is peace on our lands again, I
will ask thee to give me guesting for a night, that I may tell thee all
the tale of what hath befallen me since the last summer day when I rode
through Wulstead; but now I ask leave of thee to depart, for I have
many things to do this even, as behoveth a captain, before I sleep for
an hour or two. And if it be thy will, I would leave the Lady my wife
with my mother here at least till morrow morn."

So the Prior gave him leave, loth though he were, and Ralph kissed his
father and mother, and they blessed him. But Ursula said to him
softly: "It is my meaning to go with thee down into Upmeads to-morrow;
for who knoweth what may befall thee." Then he smiled upon her and
went his ways down the hall and out-a-gates, while all men looked on
him and did him worship.

CHAPTER 27

Ralph Holds Converse With Katherine His Gossip

Ralph went straight from St. Austin's to Clement's house, and found
much people about the door thereof, what of the townsmen, what of the
men of his own host. He passed through these, and found Clement in his
chamber, and with him a half score of such company as was wit