velihood in the woods than it had been for
most folk, so well as I knew them. So wore the days, and she came not,
and I began to think that I should see the wise carline no more, as
indeed fell out at that time; and the days began to hang heavy on my
hands, and I fell to thinking of that way to the west and the peopled
parts, whereof the carline had told me; and whiles I went out of the
Dale and went away hither and thither through the woods, and so far,
that thrice I slept away out of the Dale: but I knew that the peopled
parts would be strange to me and I feared to face them all alone.

"Thus wore the days till July was on the wane, and on a morning early I
awoke with unwonted sounds in mine ears; and when my eyes were fairly
open I saw a man standing over me and a white horse cropping the grass
hard by. And my heart was full and fain, and I sprang to my feet and
showed him a smiling happy face, for I saw at once that it was that
fair man come back again. But lo! his face was pale and worn, though
he looked kindly on me, and he said: 'O my beloved, I have found thee,
but I am faint with hunger and can speak but little.' And even
therewith he sank down on the grass. But I bestirred myself, and gave
him milk of my goats, and curds and berries, and the life came into him
again, and I sat down by him and laid his head in my lap, and he slept
a long while; and when he awoke (and it was towards sunset) he kissed
my hands and my arms, and said to me: 'Fair child, perhaps thou wilt
come with me now; and even if thou art a thrall thou mayest flee with
me; for my horse is strong and fat, though I am weak, for he can make
his dinner on the grass.'

"Then he laughed and I no less; but I fed him with my poor victual
again, and as he ate I said: 'I am no mistress's thrall now; for the
evening of the day whereon I saw thee I slew her, else had she slain
me.' 'The saints be praised,' said he: 'Thou wilt come with me, then?'
'O yea,' said I. Then I felt shamefaced and I reddened; but I said: 'I
have abided here many days for a wise woman who hath taught me many
things; but withal I hoped that thou wouldst come also.'

"Then he put his arms about my shoulders and loved me much; but at last
he said: 'Yet is it now another thing than that which I looked for,
when I talked of setting thee by me on the golden throne. For now am I
a beaten man; I have failed of that I sought, and suffered shame and
hunger and many ills. Yet eve