awake and ready for the road." So she came down to the Carline,
and they went together to the horses and dight their own, which were
the best of the company's, and without more delay gat to saddle and
rode quietly down along the pass.

So rode they till it was the afternoon, and they were come out of the
mountains into the first of the meadows. Then they drew rein into the
first of the meadows. Then they drew rein in a fair little ingle
amidst goodly trees, and gat off their horses and tethered them
amongst the sweet grass. Then spake the Carline: "I must now look
along the ways of sleep and see what is betiding." Therewith she drew
from her hardes a goat-skin bag, which she did over her head, and then
laid herself face downwards on the grass; but the Maiden sat by her
and watched.

Thus she lay for an hour, and tumbled and routed in her slumber, and
thereafter she awoke and sat up, and was much besweated and worn; and
she spake in a weak voice: "I have seen what lieth behind and what
lieth before; now therefore I can do, and all will be well. For the
chapmen have awakened and have striven, the two young ones together,
and then the two young with the old because of his bitter mocks. But
now they be got to the road again, and though we be most like to
prevent them at a place of refuge, yet wise will it be to leave as
little as may be to chancehap. As to what lieth before, I have seen
our way that it turneth somewhat east tomorrow, and will bring us to a
goodly Abbey that hath a noble guest-house, and there, by the help of
the Prior's safe-conduct and the gifts I shall give to the saints and
the stewards, we shall be put well upon our way. But now will I do;
and when thou seest me fall down and lie like to one dead, be not
afeard, but when I come to myself again then sprinkle my face with
water and put a cup of wine to my lips, and thereafter shall I be
whole, and we shall eat and drink and go on our way."

The the Carline went about the way and gathered handfuls of the dust
and small stones and laid them in the bag, and then lay down on the
way and put the bag under her bosom and brooded it, as a hen broodeth
her eggs, moaning and muttering the while, and thus she was a long
hour. Then she arose and let her hair loose, and it was long and white
and not scanty. In this guise she walked to and fro athwart the road,
keeping her face turned toward the mountains, and kept taking handfuls
of that dust and casting it up towa