o gather in the house, and he could see the images no more; for
he was filled with the sweetness of desire when he looked on them.

Then he went back slowly to the hall, and found the carline, who had
lighted the waxlights and made meat ready for him; and when she saw him
she cried out joyously: "Ah, I knew that thou wouldst come back. Art
thou well content with our little land?"

"I like it well, dame," said he; "but tell me, if thou canst, what is
the meaning of the halling in the chamber with the ivory throne?"

Said the carline: "Thereof shall another tell thee, who can tell of it
better than I; but it is nought to hide that yonder chamber is the
chamber of estate of our Lady, and she sitteth there to hear the cases
of folk and to give dooms."

The old woman crossed herself as she spoke, and Ralph wondered thereat,
but asked no more questions, for he was scarce sorry that the carline
would not tell him thereof, lest she should spoil the tale.

So passed the evening, and he went to bed and slept as a young man
should, and the next day he was up betimes and went abroad and mingled
with the carles and queens afield; but this time he spake not of the
Lady, and heard nought to heed from any of that folk. So he went back
to the castle and gat him a bow and arrows, and entered the thicket of
the wood nigh where he and Roger first came out of it. He had prayed a
young man of the folk to go with him, but he was not over willing to
go, though he would not say wherefore. So Ralph went himself by
himself and wandered some way into the wood, and saw nought worse than
himself. As he came back, making a circuit toward the open meadows, he
happened on a herd of deer in a lonely place, half wood half meadow,
and there he slew a hart with one shaft, for he was a deft bowman.
Then he went and fetched a leash of carles, who went with him somewhat
less than half willingly, and between them they broke up the hart and
carried him home to the castle, where the carline met them. She smiled
on Ralph and praised the venison, and said withal that the hunting was
well done; "For, as fond and as fair as thou mayst be, it is not good
that young men should have their minds set on one thing only."
Therewith she led him in to his meat, and set him down and served him;
and all the while of his dinner he was longing to ask her if she deemed
that the Lady would come that day, since it was the last day of those
which Roger had bidden him wai