e?" Then he swore to her that whatever betid he would
always love her, and she made as if she were gladdened again thereby;
but in her heart she could not but deem that he made somewhat light of
it, and was nought so anxious as she was.

But ere they parted that day, she went aback a little, and did on her
all those fair things which he had brought, such as she might get upon
her body; and a green gown of fine cloth was one of them, which he had
made a shift to cast across bundled up, by dint of his new strength.
So dight, she stood for him to look at, and he was well pleased, and
praised her in such wise that it was clear he looked at her wisely and
closely. So they parted. But when he was gone, she sat down and wept,
she knew not why. And in a while, she arose and did on her everyday
raiment and went home.

Chapter XXI. Warriors from Eastcheaping Ride into the Dale

So the summer wears with nought to tell of, and autumn and winter in
like manner, and spring was come again, and it was hard on two years
since those twain had first met, and Osberne was fifteen years old and
Elfhild but a month and a half less, and still they met happily as
aforetime. Wethermel throve in all wise this while, and there was deep
peace on the Eastern Dale, and never had the edges of Boardcleaver
looked on the light of day since the fall of Hardcastle.

But in early May of this year came riders into the Dale, friends,
though they rode all-armed, to wit the men-at-arms of Eastcheaping,
even such as Osberne had seen riding down from the Castle the last
time of his going thither; and the errand they came on was this, that
war and strife were at hand for the good town, for the Baron of
Deepdale had sent the Porte his challenge for some matter of truage,
wherein the town deemed it had a clear right, and seeing that it was
nought feeble, it had a settled mind to fight it out. Wherefore it had
sent a knight of its service and a company of men-at-arms to see what
help its friends of the Dale would give it at the pinch: for it was
well known that the dalesmen were stalwarth carles if need were, both
a-foot and on horseback, though they were no stirrers up of strife.

With this errand on hand came the men into the Dale, and the very
first stead they came to was Wethermel, for it lay first on their
road. And now was Wethermel a well-manned stead, for besides Stephen
the Eater, there were twelve carles defensible dwelling there, whereof
five wer