to ancient custom, to be true to him and hardy in all due
service. But so please you I will not abide till then, but will kneel
to him and to his Lady and Queen here and now."

Even so he did, and took Ralph's hand in his and swore service to him
such as was due; and he knelt to Ursula also, and bade her all thanks
for what she had done in the helping of his son; and they raised him up
and made much of him and of Ralph's mother; and great was the joy of
all folk in the hall.

So the feast went on a while till the night grew old, and folk must
fare bedward. Then King Peter and his wife brought Ralph and Ursula to
the chamber of the solar, the kingly chamber, which was well and goodly
dight with hangings and a fair and glorious bed, and was newly decked
with such fair flowers as the summer might furnish; and at the
threshold King Peter stayed them and said: "Kinsman, and thou, dear
friend, this is become your due chamber and resting-place while ye live
in the world, and this night of all others it shall be a chamber of
love; for ye are, as it were, new wedded, since now first ye are come
amongst the kindred as lover and beloved; and thou, Ursula, art now at
last the bride of this ancient house; now tell me, doth it not look
friendly and kindly on thee?"

"O yea, yea," she said. "Come thou, my man and my darling and let us
be alone in the master-chamber of this ancient House."

Then Ralph drew her unto him; and the old man blessed them and prayed
for goodly offspring for them, that the House of Upmeads might long
endure.

And thus were they two left alone amidst the love and hope of the
kindred, as erst they lay alone in the desert.

CHAPTER 32

Yet a Few Words Concerning Ralph of Upmeads

Certain it is that Ralph failed not of his promise to the good Prior of
St. Austin's at Wulstead, but went to see him speedily, and told him
all the tale of his wanderings as closely as he might, and hid naught
from him; which, as ye may wot, was more than one day's work or two or
three. And ever when Ralph thus spoke was a brother of the House
sitting with the Prior, which brother was a learned and wise man and
very speedy and deft with his pen. Wherefore it has been deemed not
unlike that from this monk's writing has come the more part of the tale
above told. And if it be so, it is well.

Furthermore, it is told of Ralph of Upmeads that he ruled over his
lands in right and might, and suffered no oppression withi