ms as ye have already seen of ours for such a small house."

"Well," said the Sub-prior, "that may well be, and tomorrow morn, if
ye will take the whole thing on your own heads, I will send you [down
to the ferry that lieth betwixt us and a House of Friars on the
further side of the water. At a writing from us these good brothers
may find you some such dwelling in the Wood Masterless as ye seek, and
will furnish you with way-beasts and guides thereto.] But I leave it
to you, Carline, whether ye do not risk greatly to take such a pearl
with you into the place which is peopled by the worst of men." Said
the Carline: "To tell you the truth, Father, I have pieces of wisdom
by which I can blind the eyes of foolish men, so that they will see
nothing of the delicate beauty of my daughter here." "Well," said the
Sub-prior, and smiled.

So the very next morning it was as the Sub-prior said. [Two
lay-brothers brought them down to the water-side, and at parting gave
a writing into the hand of the Carline. And when they were safely over
the mighty Flood, and landed on a pleasant strand where the water was
shallow and the current none so swift, the ferryman spoke a word of
them to one of the brotherhood who had stood watching the crossing of
that boat. With a friendly greeting he turned and led the way to the
Friary, a fair stone building, set with a wall both high and long.
Here met the Carline and the Maiden with a kindly welcome, and were
set in the guest-house to rest that night. And, said the good
brothers, their matter might be seen to, and they would send them on
through the Wood Masterless; and that there was such a house as the
Carline would have, which is in a good case, said they, though it may
want here and there a nail or a plank.

And in the morning two of the brothers were bidden] array themselves
and take sumpter-horses and good horses for the women, and to lead
them to within such distance of the Castle and Longshaw as might seem
good to the Carline, and that forsooth was but some dozen miles.

There then they rested; and from time to time the Carline would go on
her errands, and would see folk who would give her tidings of how
things went in the world. And ever she found that the tale was the
same. For the Lord of Longshaw might not stretch out a hand without
thriving; and ever with him at council, or at privy talk, or in the
front of the battle, was this marvellous champion, whom it availed
nought for any man