n beside him and said:
"Mayhappen I shall sadden thee by my question, but I mind me what our
last talking together was about, and therefore I must needs ask thee
this, was that other one fairer than this one is?"

Ralph knit his brows: "I wot not," quoth he, "since she is gone, that
other one."

"Yea," said Richard, "but this I say, that she is without a blemish.
Did ye drink of the Well together?"

"Yea, surely," said Ralph. Said Richard: "And is this woman of a good
heart? Is she valiant?" "Yea, yea," said Ralph, flushing red.

"As valiant as was that other?" said Richard. Said Ralph: "How may I
tell, unless they were tried in one way?" Yet Richard spake: "Are ye
wedded?" "Even so," said Ralph.

"Dost thou deem her true?" said Richard. "Truer than myself," said
Ralph, in a voice which was somewhat angry.

Quoth Richard: "Then is it better than well, and better than well; for
now hast thou wedded into the World of living men, and not to a dream
of the Land of Fairy."

Ralph sat silent a little, and as if he were swallowing somewhat; at
last he said: "Old friend, I were well content if thou wert to speak
such words no more; for it irks me, and woundeth my heart."

Said Richard: "Well, I will say no more thereof; be content therefore,
for now I have said it, and thou needest not fear me, what I have to
say thereon any more, and thou mayst well wot that I must needs have
said somewhat of this."

Ralph nodded to him friendly, and even therewith came in the banquet,
which was richly served, as for a King's son, and wine was poured forth
of the best, and they feasted and were merry. And then Ralph told all
the tale of his wanderings how it had betid, bringing in all that
Ursula had told him of Utterbol; while as for her she put in no word of
it. So that at last Ralph, being wishful to hear her tell somewhat,
made more of some things than was really in them, so that she might set
him right; but no word more she said for all that, but only smiled on
him now and again, and sat blushing like a rose over her
golden-flowered gown, while Richard looked on her and praised her in
his heart exceedingly.

But when Ralph had done the story (which was long, so that by then it
was over it had been dark night some while), Richard said: "Well,
fosterling, thou hast seen much, and done much, and many would say that
thou art a lucky man, and that more and much more lieth ready to thine
hand. Whither now wilt thou w