wise? And I will tell thee, that though I hope it
not, yet I would thou shouldst naysay it; for it will be hard for me to
see another woman sitting in our Lady's seat: yea, to see her sitting
there, who hath stolen her luck."

Said Ralph: "Now this proffer of the Captain's I call friendly and
knightly, and I will gladly swear as he will; all the more as without
any oath I should never fail him whensoever he may send for me. As for
thee, Roger, ride with us if thou wilt, and thou shalt be welcome both
in the company, and at the High House of Upmeads whenso we come there."

Then was Roger silent, but nowise abashed; and as they spoke they heard
the tramp of horses and the clash of weapons, and they saw through the
open door three men-at-arms riding up to the house; so Ralph went out
to welcome them; they were armed full well in bright armour, and their
coats were of the Dry Tree, and were tall men and warrior-like. They
hailed Ralph as captain, and he gave them the sele of the day and bade
come in and drink a cup; so did they, but they were scarce off their
horses ere there came another three, and then six together, and so one
after other till the hall of the Flower de Luce was full of the gleam
of steel and clash of armour, and the lads held their horses without
and were merry with the sight of the stalwart men-at-arms. Now cometh
Ursula down from her chamber clad in her bravery; and when they saw her
they set up a shout for joy of her, so that the rafters rang again; but
she laughed for pleasure of them, and poured them out the wine, till
they were merrier with the sight of her than with the good liquor.

Now Roger comes to Ralph and tells him that he deems his host hath come
to the last man. Then Ralph armed him, and those two maidens brought
him his horse, and they mount all of them and draw up in the Square;
and Roger and Stephen a-Hurst array them, for they were chosen of them
as leaders along with Ralph, and Richard, whom they all knew, at least
by hearsay. Then Roger drew from his pouch a parchment, and read the
roll of names, and there was no man lacking, and they were threescore
save five, besides Roger and the way-farers, and never was a band of
like number seen better; and Richard said softly unto Ralph: "If we
had a few more of these, I should care little what foemen we should
meet in Upmeads: soothly, my lord, they had as well have ridden into
red Hell as into our green fields." "Fear not, Richard,"