e his coming back at Richard's house anigh the water.

CHAPTER 30

Ralph Brings His Father and Mother to Upmeads

Short was the road back again to Wulstead, and whereas the day was not
very old when Ralph came there, he failed not to stop at Clement's
house, and came into the chamber where sat Dame Katherine in pensive
wise nigh to the window, with her open hands in her lap. Quoth Ralph:
"Rejoice, gossip! for neither is Clement hurt, nor I, and all is done
that should be done." She moved her but little, but the tears came
into her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. "What, gossip?" quoth Ralph;
"these be scarce tears of joy; what aileth thee?" "Nay," said
Katherine, "indeed I am joyful of thy tidings, though sooth to say I
looked for none other. But, dear lord and gossip, forgive me my tears
on the day of thy triumph; for if they be not wholly of joy, so also
are they not wholly of sorrow. But love and the passing of the days
are bittersweet within my heart to-day. Later on thou shalt see few
faces more cheerful and merry in the hall at Upmeads than this of thy
gossip's. So be merry now, and go fetch thy father and thy mother, and
rejoice their hearts that thou hast been even better than thy word to
them. Farewell, gossip; but look to see me at Upmeads before many days
are past; for I know thee what thou art; and that the days will
presently find deeds for thee, and thou wilt be riding into peril, and
coming safe from out of it. Farewell!"

So he departed and rode to the House of St. Austin, and the folk
gathered so about him in the street that at the gate of the Priory he
had to turn about and speak to them; and he said: "Good people,
rejoice! there are no more foemen of Wulstead anigh you now; and take
this word of me, that I will see to it in time to come that ye live in
peace and quiet here."

Folk shouted for joy, and the fathers who were standing within the gate
heard his word and rejoiced, and some of them ran off to tell King
Peter that his son was come back victorious already; so that by then he
had dismounted at the Guest-house door, lo! there was the King and his
wife with him, and both they alboun for departure. And when they saw
him King Peter cried out: "There is no need to say a word, my son;
unless thou wouldst tell the tale to the holy father Prior, who, as ye
see, has e'en now come out to us."

Said Ralph: "Father and mother, I pray your blessing, and also the
blessing of the fathe