d died of sorrow,
and her also I never saw, save with eyes that noted nought that I might
remember. And my third kinsman was the traitor, that cast me forth of
mine heritage, and looked to it that I should wax up as a churl, and
lose all hope of high deeds; and at the last he strove to slay me.

"Therefore, sweet, have I no kindred, and none that are bound to cherish
me, and it is for thee to take the place of them, and be unto me both
father and mother, and brother and sister, and all kindred."

She said: "My mother I never saw, and I was but little when my father
died; and if I had any kindred thereafter they loved me not well enough
to strike one stroke for me, nay, or to speak a word even, when I was
thrust out of my place and delivered over to the hands of pitiless
people, and my captivity worsened on me as the years grew. Wherefore to
me also art thou in the stead of all kindred and affinity."

Now Christopher took counsel with Jack of the Tofts and the great men
of the kingdom, and that same day, the first day of his kingship in
Oakenham, was summoned a great mote of the whole folk; and in half a
month was it holden, and thereat was Christopher taken to king with none
gainsaying.

Began now fair life for the people of Oakenrealm; for Jack of the Tofts
abode about the King in Oakenham; and wise was his counsel, and there
was no greed in him, and yet he wotted of greed and guile in others,
and warned the King thereof when he saw it, and the tyrants were brought
low, and no poor and simple man had need to thieve. As for Christopher,
he loved better to give than to take; and the grief and sorrow of folk
irked him sorely; it was to him as if he had gotten a wound when he saw
so much as one unhappy face in a day; and all folk loved him, and the
fame of him went abroad through the lands and the roads of travel, so
that many were the wise and valiant folk that left their own land and
came into Oakenrealm to dwell there, because of the good peace and
the kindliness that there did abound; so that Oakenrealm became both
many-peopled and joyous.

Though Jack of the Tofts abode with the King at Oakenham, his sons went
back to the Tofts, and Gilbert was deemed the head man of them; folk
gathered to them there, and the wilderness about them became builded in
many places, and the Tofts grew into a goodly cheaping town, for those
brethren looked to it that all roads in the woodland should be safe and
at peace, so that no cha