d never meet, as they sat each side of the fearful water, and the
tale and sweet speech sped to and fro betwixt them. So a fair ending
had that day of tryst.

Chapter XIX. The Winter Passes and Elfhild Tells of the Death of Her
Kinswoman

Now Osberne and Stephen both give rede to the goodman, and bid him
live somewhat less niggardly, since not only had they good store of
victual and clothes and the like, which had been hoarded a long time,
but also the gifts of Waywearer had stood them in good stead, and
furthermore, the goodman was much bettered by the spoil of Hardcastle.
For he had left much wealth behind him, and chiefly in silver and
gold; and all that he had left, save his weapons, had Osberne given to
his grandsire. So the goodman heeded their words and let himself be
talked over, and while winter was yet young and before there was any
snow to hinder, he rode with Osberne down the Dale, and looked into
many of the steads, and amongst others, were dwelt the damsel who had
been paired with Osberne on the day of the mid-winter Cloven Mote. And
he thought her fair and sweet, and she received him joyfully and
kissed him; but he was scarce so ready for that as he was aforetime,
for he deemed she kissed him as a child and not a man.

So by hook or by crook the goodman got him six hired folk; three men,
two of whom were young, and three women, all young and one comely, one
ill-favoured, and the other betwixt and between. It must be said by
the way, that if he had abided the spring for getting these new folk
he would scarce have hired them, for the repute of Wethermel for scant
housekeeping had gone wide about; but when folk heard that Master
Nicholas was hiring folk from mid-winter onwards, they were willing
enough to go, whereas they deemed he would be changing his mind and
becoming open-handed. So Nicholas rides back with his catch (for he
had brought nags to horse them), and henceforth is good house kept at
Wethermel, as good as anywhere in the Dale.

Again fared Osberne to the mid-winter Cloven Mote, and again was he
mated to the above-said damsel, who hight Gertrude; and forsooth this
time he deemed that she kissed him and caressed him not so wholly as a
mere boy, though of such things ye may well deem he knew little. For
she seemed to find it hard when they kissed, as paired folk are bound
to do, to let her lips leave his, and when their hands parted at the
end of the Mote she gave a great sigh, and put her