this black-haired man had many questions to ask, chiefly
concerning the women, what they were like to look on, and of what mood
they were. Hallblithe answered thereto as long as he might, but at last
he laughed and said: "Friend, forbear thy questions now; for meseemeth in
a few hours thou shalt be as wise hereon as is the God of Love himself."

So they made diligence along the road, and all was tidingless till on the
second day at even they came to the first house off the waste. There had
they good welcome, and slept. But on the morrow when they arose,
Hallblithe spake to the Seekers, and said: "Now are things much changed
betwixt us since the time when we first met: for then I had all my
desire, as I thought, and ye had but one desire, and well nigh lacked
hope of its fulfilment. Whereas now the lack hath left you and come to
me. Wherefore even as time agone ye might not abide even one night at
the House of the Raven, so hard as your desire lay on you; even so it
fareth with me to-day, that I am consumed with my desire, and I may not
abide with you; lest that befall which befalleth betwixt the full man and
the fasting. Wherefore now I bless you and depart."

They abounded in words of good-will to him, and the once-king said:
"Abide with us, and we shall see to it that thou have all the dignities
that a man may think of."

And the once-captain said: "Lo, here is mine hand that hath been mighty;
never shalt thou lack it for the accomplishment of thine uttermost
desire. Abide with us."

Lastly said the young man: "Abide with us, Son of the Raven! Set thine
heart on a fair woman, yea even were it the fairest; and I will get her
for thee, even were my desire set on her."

But he smiled on them, and shook his head, and said: "All hail to you!
but mine errand is yet undone." And therewith he departed.

He skirted Wood-end and came not to it, but got him down to the side of
the sea, not far from where he first came aland, but somewhat south of
it. A fair oak-wood came down close to the beach of the sea; it was some
four miles end-long and over-thwart. Thither Hallblithe betook him, and
in a day or two got him wood-wright's tools from a house of men a little
outside the wood, three miles from the sea-shore. Then he set to work
and built him a little frame-house on a lawn of the wood beside a clear
stream; for he was a very deft wood-wright. Withal he made him a bow and
arrows, and shot what he would of the f