who seemed to know both of that folk, and of the
Burg of the Four Friths, and she said that the folk of Hampton were a
good folk, and that they of the Burg were evil."

The damsel smiled sadly when she heard him say 'She,' and when he had
done she said: "And I have heard, and not from yesterday, that at
Hampton dwelleth the Fellowship of the Dry Tree, and that those of the
fellowship are robbers and reivers. Nevertheless they will perchance
be little worse than the others; and the tale tells that the way to the
Well at the World's End is by the Dry Tree; so thither will I at all
adventure. And now will I say farewell to thee, for it is most like
that I shall not see thee again."

"O, maiden!" said Ralph, "why wilt thou not go back to Bourton Abbas?
There I might soon meet thee again, and yet, indeed, I also am like to
go to Hampton. Shall I not see thee there?"

She shook her head and said: "Nay, since I must go so far, I shall not
tarry; and, sooth to say, if I saw thee coming in at one gate I should
go out by the other, for why should I dally with a grief that may not
be amended. For indeed I wot that thou shalt soon forget to wish to
see me, either at Bourton Abbas or elsewhere; so I will say no more
than once again farewell."

Then she came close to him and put her hands on his shoulders and
kissed his mouth; and then she turned away swiftly, caught up her
cloak, and gat lightly into the saddle, and so shook her reins and rode
away east toward Hampton, and left Ralph standing there downcast and
pondering many things. It was still so early in the summer morning,
and he knew so little what to do, that presently he turned and walked
back to his lair amongst the hazels, and there he lay down, and his
thoughts by then were all gone back again to the lovely lady whom he
had delivered, and he wondered if he should ever see her again, and,
sooth to say, he sorely desired to see her. Amidst such thoughts he
fell asleep again, for the night yet owed him something of rest, so
young as he was and so hard as he had toiled, both body and mind,
during the past day.

CHAPTER 11

Now Must Ralph Ride For It

When he awoke again the sun was shining through the hazel leaves,
though it was yet early; he arose and looked to his horse, and led him
out of the hazel copse and stood and looked about him; and lo! a man
coming slowly through the wood on Ralph's right hand, and making as it
seemed for the want-way; he saw