Fathers' House: and withal I am wishful to see if it be
indeed true that the men of the Burg have become mild and peaceful; and
to know what hath befallen those doughty champions of the Dry Tree; and
if perchance they have any will to hold us a tilting in courteous
fashion."

Richard smiled on him, and said: "Thou holdest more then by the Dry
Tree than by the Burg; though while agone we deemed the Champions worse
men to meet in the wood than the Burgers."

"So it is," said Ralph; "but men are oft mis-said by them that know
them not thoroughly: and now, if it were a good wish, O Sage of
Swevenham, I were fain to fall in with the best of all those champions,
a tall man and a proper, who, meseems, had good-will toward me, I know
not why."

Quoth the Sage: "If thou canst not see the end of this wish fulfilled,
no more can I. And yet, meseems something may follow it which is akin
to grief: be content with things so done, my son."

Now Ralph holds his peace, and they speed on their way, Ursula riding
close by Ralph's side, and caressing him with looks, and by touch also
when she might; and after a while he fell to talking again, and ever in
the same loud, cheerful voice. Till at last, in about another hour,
they came in sight of the stream which ran down toward the Swelling
Flood from that pool wherein erst the Lady of Abundance had bathed her
before the murder. Hard looked Ralph on the stream, but howsoever his
heart might ache with the memory of that passed grief, like as the body
aches with the bruise of yesterday's blow, yet he changed countenance
but little, and in his voice was the same cheery sound. But Ursula
noted him, and how his eyes wandered, and how little he heeded the
words of the others, and she knew what ailed him, for long ago he had
told her all that tale, and so now her heart was troubled, and she
looked on him and was silent.

Thus, then, a little before sunset, they came on that steep cliff with
the cave therein, and the little green plain thereunder, and the rocky
bank going down sheer into the water of the stream. Forsooth they came
on it somewhat suddenly from out of the bushes of the valley; and there
indeed not only the Sage and Richard, but Ursula also, were stayed by
the sight as folk compelled; for all three knew what had befallen
there. But Ralph, though he looked over his shoulder at it all, yet
rode on steadily, and when he saw that the others lingered, he waved
his hand and cr