y had taken, they said they had gone
north, and were minded for the uplands and the mountains. So the
men-at-arms made no delay, but turned and rode the northern [way]
diligently, and put their horses to it all they might; and they rode
all that day and part of the next; but rode they fast or rode they
slow, it was all one, for they came across neither hide nor hair of
those twain, and so must needs come back empty-handed to Brookside.
And when they told the Lady hereof, she fell into a cold rage, and
cursed those twain for their folly and thanklessness, and said now
that they had missed all the good which she had in her heart to do
them since they had been such close friends to her dear son, late
murdered. But however that might be, the Carline and the Maiden never
saw Brookside again.

Sooth to say, it was by no means north that these twain rode, but as
near south as might be. The Sisters were good to them, and gave them
each a gown such as their lay-sisters wore, for they said that so
arrayed they would be the less meddled with. Therewithal the Prioress
gave them a writing under her seal, praying all religious houses to
help them wheresoever they came, whereas they were holy women and of
good life. And the twain thanked them and blessed them, and made an
oblation each one of them, of a fine ruby from off that necklace of
gems aforesaid.

Now they rode through a peaceable country, not ill-peopled, for two
weeks or more, and gat good guesting, whiles at some houses of nuns,
whiles at a good yeoman's, and ever were folk good to them; and nought
befel them to tell of, save that once they were chased by riders, but
overwent them and came under the shelter of a good old knight's
castle, who drave off the thieves, and gave them a good guesting, but
was of somewhat heavy cheer, whereas his son, who had gone to the
wars, had been taken captive by the Lord of Longshaw, and was not yet
come back again.

After this they came into worser lands, rocky and barren, but made
their way through somehow, whereas the Carline was deft at snaring
small deer, as coneys and the like, and so they lived and got forward
on their way.

But on a day toward sunset, as they had just turned about a corner of
the road, they came upon a fellowship of a half score men who were at
their supper on the green grass just before them. Two of these gat
straight to their horses and rode toward the dames, who, seeing that
their horses were well-nigh spent