said Sir
Alwyn, "but such-like haps drift toward the lucky."

So the talk thereof dropped down in a while; but the Carline, who had
been shown to a good seat not far off, heard all this, and said to
herself: I wonder if this old knight is somewhat wise of foresight,
for surely along the same road wendeth my mind. And afterwards, the
next morning, when as it happened the Carline was standing close to
the lord, and they two alone, she said to him: "Lord, might an old and
feeble woman ask of thy wisdom without rebuke if thou hast any inkling
of what thine end shall be?" He looked hard on her and said: "Dame, I
note of thee that thou hast some foresight of things to come, and thou
art old as I am, therefore to thee will I tell it, as I would to none
other, that I shall fall in battle, and in that said battle our backs
shall be turned toward the foe and our faces toward the world beyond;
and this shall be ere the earth is eighteen months older." So she
thanked him, and they parted.

But as for the Maiden, she also had hearkened heedfully to the talk of
the two knights, and something went to her heart as they talked about
a meet fellow for this great captain, and she said to herself, Ah! and
where shall such a man be on the earth, if it not be he whom no man
friendly may see without his heart being drawn to him, whom no foe may
see without casting aside hope of victory, the wise one, while yet a
boy, of the war of Eastcheaping, the frank and the fair, and mine own
love who is seeking me?

When the morning was they departed with all good wishes from Warding
Knowe, and the franklin's men turned back home; for Sir Alwyn's
stronghold was as a bar against the strong-thieves of the forest and
thereabout. But the others went forward toward Brookside, nor is there
much to tell of their journey; for the most part they guested at the
houses of the husbandmen, or whiles at a franklin's or yeoman's house,
and none begrudged them the harbour and victual; but the poor folk Sir
Mark paid largely therefor.

At last, on the ninth day as it grew toward dusk, and they had been
riding a land of little hills, with no little woodland betwixt the
meadows so that they might see no great way ahead, they saw but a half
mile aloof a hill nowise high, and before it a little river bridged
with a goodly stone bridge; and on the said hill was a long house,
defensible by reason of its towers and walls, yet no mere stronghold,
but a goodly dwelling. The