shall I be the midwife to bring them to birth. Ha? Will it do?"

"Yea," said Ralph, "but how long wilt thou be?" Said Richard: "I shall
come back speedily if I find the land barren; but if the field be in
ear I shall tarry to harvest it. So keep thou thy soul in patience."
"And what shall I do now?" said Ralph. "Wear away the hours," said
Richard. "And to begin with, come back within the gates with me and
let us go look at thy brother's booth in the market-place: it is the
nethermost of a goodly house which he is minded to dwell in; and he
will marry a wife and sit down in Whitwall, so well he seemeth like to
thrive; for they have already bidden him to the freedom of the city,
and to a brother of the Faring-Knights, whereas he is not only a
stirring man, but of good lineage also: for now he hideth not that he
is of the Upmeads kindred."

CHAPTER 14

Ralph Falleth in With Another Old Friend

Ralph went with Richard now without more words, and they came into the
market-place and unto Blaise's booth and house, which was no worse than
the best in the place; and the painters and stainers were at work on
the upper part of it to make it as bright and goodly as might be with
red and blue and green and gold, and all fair colours, and already was
there a sign hung out of the fruitful tree by the water-side. As for
the booth, it was full within of many wares and far-fetched and
dear-bought things; as pieces of good and fine cloth plumbed with the
seal of the greatest of the cities; and silk of Babylon, and spices of
the hot burning islands, and wonders of the silversmith's and the
goldsmith's fashioning, and fair-wrought weapons and armour of the
best, and every thing that a rich chapman may deal in. And amidst of
it all stood Blaise clad in fine black cloth welted with needle work,
and a gold chain about his neck. He was talking with three honourable
men of the Port, and they were doing him honour with kind words and the
bidding of help. When he saw Ralph and Richard come in, he nodded to
them, as to men whom he loved, but were beneath him in dignity, and
left not talking with the great men. Richard grinned a little thereat,
as also did Ralph in his heart; for he thought: "Here then is one of
the Upmeads kin provided for, so that soon he may buy with his money
two domains as big as Upmeads and call them his manors."

Now Ralph looks about him, and presently he sees a man come forward to
meet him from the inne