where they stayed and rested for the night,
because evening was at hand. So when those four had eaten and drunk
there together, Ralph spoke and said: "Michael-a-dale, thou art for
Swevenham to-morrow?" "Yea, lord," said Michael, "belike I shall yet
find kindred there; and I call to thy mind that I craved of thee to
lead me to Swevenham as payment for all if I had done aught for thy
service."

"Sooth is that," said Ralph, "thou shalt go with my good-will; and, as
I deem, thou shalt not lack company betwixt here and Swevenham, whereas
our dear friend here, the friend of thy father's father, is going the
same road."

Then the Sage of Swevenham leaned across the board, and said: "What
word hath come out of thy mouth, my son?" Said Ralph, smiling on him:
"It is the last word which we have heard from thee of this matter,
though verily it was spoken a while ago. What wilt thou add to it as
now?" "This," quoth the Sage, "that I will leave thee no more till
thou biddest me go from thee. Was this word needful?"

Ralph reached his hand to him and said: "It is well and more; but the
road hence to Upmeads may yet be a rough one." "Yea," said the Sage,
"yet shall we come thither all living, unless my sight now faileth."

Then Ursula rose up and came to the old man, and cast her arms about
him and said: "Yea, father, come with us, and let thy wisdom bless our
roof-tree. Wilt thou not teach our children wisdom; yea, maybe our
children's children, since thou art a friend of the Well?"

"I know not of the teaching of wisdom," said the Sage; "but as to my
going with thee, it shall be as I said e'en-now; and forsooth I looked
for this bidding of thee to make naught of the word which I spoke ere
yet I had learned wisdom of thee."

Therewith were they merry, and fain of each other, and the evening wore
amidst great content.

But when morning was come they gat to horse, and Ralph spake to Michael
and said: "Well, friend, now must thou ride alone to thy kindred, and
may fair days befall thee in Swevenham. But if thou deem at any time
that matters go not so well with thee as thou wouldst, then turn thine
head to Upmeads, and try it there, and we shall further thee all we
may."

Then came the Sage to Michael as he sat upon his horse, a stalwarth man
of some forty winters, and said: "Michael-a-dale, reach me thine
hand." So did he, and the Sage looked into the palm thereof, and said:
"This man shall make old bones, and it is