to gainsay. At last the time began to seem long for
the Maiden; and the Carline from time to time, when she did not know
that she was nigh, heard her bewailing that her man came not, and she
heard her say one day: If he come not before long, then will be
perished some deal of that delicate beauty which I would above all
things deliver into his keeping, so that he may know that it was no
mere shadow of a woman with whom he gave and took in talk on the other
side of the Sundering Flood. And in very sooth she began to peak and
pine, and the Carline took her to task therefor, and said that she
herself would try to set this right. Till on a day the Carline knew
for sure that the champion had now turned his head from all his
valiances, and was thinking of nothing but of how he might come across
her with whom he had such merry days on the other side of the Great
Water.

Short it is that is left to tell. The Carline knew of a certainty that
he had been smitten in felony and grievously hurt, and that he had
been carried to an hermitage and there healed; therefore she waylaid
him on a time and brought him to the house wherein they dwelt. And
there, whether it were by her planning or by mere chance-hap may
scarce be told, but such a thing befel that the wrath of the champion
blazed out in him, so that for some few minutes he might scarce tell
what was before him. And then it was all over, and they two were
sealed for one another for what yet abided them on the earth.

Now this is my tale, and belike it has been somewhat overlong, and
therefore it scarce needs that ye bid this damsel tell a tale for her
part, which were indeed better told by her casting to earth her grey
cloak and showing her body fairly dight. For, indeed, this damsel
belongeth to one who is your kinsman and dear friend: and seemly will
she think it that she show her body so dight that it shall lack no
fairness before you.

Chapter LXV. Osberne and Elfhild Make Themselves Known to Their People

Therewith the Carline sat down, and there was great cheer and rumour
in the hall, and folk wondered what was to come next; but it is not to
be said but that they had an inkling of what had befallen. Then
Elfhild arose and cast off her grey clothes, and was clad thereunder
in the finest of fine gear of gold and of green, and surely, said
everybody, that never was such beauty seen in hall. And for a while
people held their breaths, as they that see a wonder which they