y, and they love thee. Come then, lest the hall be grown too
dusk for men to see thy fairness." "Yea, yea," she said, "but first
here is a garland I made for thee, and one also for me, while I was
abiding thee after the battle, and my love and my hope is woven into
it." And she set it on his head, and said, "O thou art fair, and I did
well to meet thee in the dark wood." Then he kissed her dearly on the
mouth and led her forth, and none went with them, and they mounted and
went their ways.

But Ralph said: "I deem that we should ride the meadow to the bridge,
because that way lies the great door of the hall, and if I know my
father and Nicholas they will look for us that way. Dost thou yet fear
these dead men, sweetheart, whom our folk slew this morning?" "Nay,"
she said, "it has been a long time since the morning, and they, and
their fieriness which has so burned out, are now to me as a tale that
hath been told. It is the living that I am going to, and I hope to do
well by them."

Came they then to the bridge-end and there was no man there, nought but
the kine that were wandering about over the dewy grass of eventide.
Then they rode over the bridge and through the orchard, and still there
was no man, and all gates were open wide. So they came into the
base-court of the house, and it also was empty of folk; and they came
to the great doors of the hall and they were open wide, and they could
see through them that the hall was full of folk, and therein by the
light of the low sun that streamed in at the shot-window at the other
end they saw the faces of men and the gleam of steel and gold.

So they lighted down from their horses, and took hand in hand and
entered bright-faced and calm, and goodly beyond the goodliness of men;
then indeed all that folk burst forth into glad cries, and tossed up
their weapons, and many wept for joy.

As they went slowly up the long hall (and it was thirty fathom of
length) Ralph looked cheerfully and friendly from side to side, and
beheld the faces of the Shepherds and the Champions, and the men of
Wulstead, and his own folk; and all they cried hail to him and the
lovely and valiant Lady. Then he looked up to the high-seat, and saw
that his father's throne was empty, and his mother's also; but behind
the throne stood a knight all armed in bright armour holding the banner
of Upmeads; but his father and mother stood on the edge of the dais to
meet him and Ursula; and when they cam