thrive and win the praise of the people.

Ralph read on and on till the short night waned, and the wax-lights
failed one after the other, and the windows of the hall grew grey and
daylight came, and the throstles burst out a-singing at once in the
castle pleasaunce, and the sun came up over the wood, and the sound of
men-folk bestirring themselves a-field came to his ears through the
open windows; and at last he was done with the tale, and the carline
came not near him though the sun had clomb high up the heavens. As for
Ralph, what he had read was sweet poison to him; for if before he was
somewhat tormented by love, now was his heart sick and sore with it.
Though he knew not for certain whether this tale had to do with the
Lady of the Forest, and though he knew not if the Lady who should come
to the castle were even she, yet he needs must deem that so it was, and
his heart was weary with love, and his manhood seemed changed.

CHAPTER 20

Ralph Meeteth a Man in the Wood

But the morning began to wear as he sat deep in these thoughts and
still the Carline came not to him; and he thought: "She leaveth me
alone that I may do her bidding: so will I without tarrying." And he
arose and did on his hauberk and basnet, and girt his sword to his
side, and went forth, a-foot as before. He crossed the river by a wide
ford and stepping stones somewhat below the pool wherein he had bathed
on that first day; and already by then he had got so far, what with the
fresh air of the beauteous morning, what with the cheerful tinkling of
his sword and hauberk, he was somewhat amended of his trouble and
heaviness of spirit. A little way across the river, but nigher to the
wood, was a house or cot of that country-folk, and an old woman sat
spinning in the door. So Ralph went up thither, and greeted her, and
craved of her a draught of milk; so the goody turned about and cried
out to one within, and there came forth one of the maidens whom Ralph
had met fishing that other day, and the old woman bade her bring forth
milk and bread. Then the carline looked hard at Ralph, and said: "Ah!
I have heard tell of thee: thou art abiding the turn of the days up at
the castle yonder, as others have done before thee. Well, well, belike
thou shalt have thy wish, though whether it shall be to thy profit, who
shall say?"

Thereat Ralph's heart fell again, and he said: "Sayest thou, mother,
that there have been others abiding like me in the t