more like than not, King's
son, that he shall seek to thee at Upmeads ere he die." Said Ralph:
"His coming shall be a joy to us, how pleasant soever our life may be
otherwise. Farewell, Michael! all good go with thee for thine
wholesome redes."

So then Michael gave them farewell, and rode his ways to Swevenham,
going hastily, as one who should hurry away from a grief.

But the three held on their way to Whitwall, and it was barely noon
when they came to the gate thereof on a Saturday of latter May, It was
a market-day, and the streets were thronged, and they looked on the
folk and were fain of them, since they seemed to them to be something
more than aliens. The folk also looked on them curiously, and deemed
them goodly, both the old man and the two knights, for they thought no
otherwise of Ursula than that she was a carle.

But now as they rode, slowly because of the crowd, up Petergate, they
heard a cry of one beside them, as of a man astonished but joyful; so
Ralph drew rein, and turned thither whence the cry came, and Ursula saw
a man wide-shouldered, grey-haired, blue-eyed, and ruddy of
countenance--a man warrior-like to look on, and girt with a long sword.
Ralph lighted down from his horse, and met the man, who was coming
toward him, cast his arms about his neck, and kissed him, and lo, it
was Richard the Red. The people round about, when they saw it, clapped
their hands, and crowded about the two crying out: "Hail to the
friends long parted, and now united!" But Richard, whom most knew,
cried out: "Make way, my masters! will ye sunder us again?" Then he
said to Ralph: "Get into thy saddle, lad; for surely thou hast a tale
to tell overlong for the open street."

Ralph did as he was bidden, and without more ado they went on all
toward that hostelry where Ralph had erst borne the burden of grief.
Richard walked by Ralph's side, and as he went he said: "Moreover, lad,
I can see that thy tale is no ill one; therefore my heart is not wrung
for thee or me, though I wait for it a while." Then again he said:
"Thou doest well to hide her loveliness in war-weed even in this town
of peace."

Ursula reddened, and Richard laughed and said: "Well, it is a fair rose
which thou hast brought from east-away. There will be never another
couple in these parts like you. Now I see the words on thy lips; so I
tell thee that Blaise thy brother is alive and well and happy; which
last word means that his coffer is both dee