ease became
more plenteous, which is well seen by this, that since she hath ceased
to come, the seasons have been niggard unto us."

The Sage smiled somewhat, and the old man went on: "But chiefly the
blessing was to see her when she came to us: for verily it seemed that
where she set her feet the grass grew greener, and that the flowers
blossomed fairer where the shadow of her body fell." And therewith the
old man fell a-weeping again.

The Sage held his peace, and Ralph still kept silence; and now of these
men all the younger ones had their eyes upon Ursula.

After a while Ralph spake and said: "O elder, and ye folk of the
People of Abundance, true it is that your Lady who is dead loved me,
and it is through her that I am become a Friend of the Well. Now
meseemeth though ye have lost your Lady, whom ye so loved and
worshipped, God wot not without cause, yet I wot not why ye now cry out
for a master, since ye dwell here in peace and quiet and all wealth,
and the Fathers of the Thorn are here to do good to you. Yet, if ye
will it in sooth, I will be called your Lord, in memory of your Lady
whom ye shall not see again. And as time wears I will come and look on
you and hearken to your needs: and if ye come to fear that any should
fall upon you with the strong hand, then send ye a message to me, Ralph
of Upmeads, down by the water, and I will come to you with such
following as need be. And as for service, this only I lay upon you,
that ye look to the Castle and keep it in good order, and ward it
against thieves and runagates, and give guesting therein to any
wandering knight or pilgrim, or honest goodman, who shall come to you.
Now is all said, my masters, and I pray you let us depart in peace; for
time presses."

Then all they (and this time women as well as men) cried out joyfully:
"Hail to our lord! and long life to our helper." And the women withal
drew nearer to him, and some came close up to him, as if they would
touch him or kiss his hand, but by seeming durst not, but stood
blushing before him, and he looked on them, smiling kindly.

But the old man laid his hand on his knee and said: "Lord, wouldst thou
not light down and enter thy Castle; for none hath more right there now
than thou. The Prior of the Thorn hath told us that there is no
lineage of the Lady left to claim it; and none other might ever have
claimed it save the Baron of Sunway, whom thou hast slain. And else
would we have slain him, sinc