as it was
in the day, more than one blackbird was singing from the bushes of the
castle pleasance. Ralph sighed for very pleasure of life before he had
yet well remembered where he was or what had befallen of late; but as
he stood at the window and gazed over the meadows, and the memory of
all came back to him, he sighed once more for a lack of somewhat that
came into his heart, and he smiled shamefacedly, though there was no
one near, as his thought bade him wonder if amongst the haymaking women
yonder there were any as fair as those yellow-clad thrall-women of the
Burg; and as he turned from the window a new hope made his heart beat,
for he deemed that he had been brought to that house that he might meet
some one who should change his life and make him a new man.

So he did on his raiment and went his ways down to the hall, and looked
about for Roger, but found him not, nor any one else save the carline,
who presently came in from the buttery, and of whom he asked, where was
Roger. Quoth she: "He has been gone these six hours, but hath left a
word for thee, lord, to wit, that he beseeches thee to abide him here
for two days at the least, and thereafter thou art free to go if thou
wilt. But as for me" (and therewith she smiled on him as sweetly as
her wrinkled old face might compass) "I say to thee, abide beyond those
two days if Roger cometh not, and as long as thou art here I will make
thee all the cheer I may. And who knoweth but thou mayest meet worthy
adventures here. Such have ere now befallen good knights in this house
or anigh it."

"I thank thee, mother," quoth Ralph, "and it is like that I may abide
here beyond the two days if the adventure befall me not ere then. But
at least I will bide the eating of my dinner here to-day."

"Well is thee, fair lord," said the carline. "If thou wilt but walk in
the meadow but a little half hour all shall be ready for thee.
Forsooth it had been dight before now, but that I waited thy coming
forth from thy chamber, for I would not wake thee. And the saints be
praised for the long sweet sleep that hath painted thy goodly cheeks."
So saying she hurried off to the buttery, leaving Ralph laughing at her
outspoken flattering words.

Then he got him out of the hall and the castle, for no door was shut,
and there was no man to be seen within or about the house. So he
walked to and fro the meadow and saw the neat-herds in the pasture, and
the hay-making folk beyond them