or I noted among those who were present those
two gaudy ladies between whom Deleroy had sat at that meal after the
business of the loan was settled. Moreover, I heard one of them say:

"What will Deleroy do when he comes back to find his darling gone?" and
the other answer with a high laugh:

"Seek another, doubtless, or borrow more money from the merchant,
and----" Here I lost their talk in the rush of the wind through the
opened door.

In the porch was old Sir Robert Aleys.

"Mother of God!" he shouted, "may the rest of the lives of you two be
smoother than your nuptials. No Cheapside feast for me, I'm for home
in such fiend's weather. Farewell, son Hubert, and all joy to you.
Farewell, Blanche. Learn to be obedient as a wife and keep your eyes for
your husband's face, that is my counsel to you. Till we meet again at
Christmastide in Sussex, whither I ride to-morrow, farewell to both of
you."

Farewell, it was indeed, for never did either of us look on him again.

Wrapped close in our cloaks we battled through the storm and at length,
somewhat breathless, reached my house in the Cheap where the garlands of
autumn flowers and greenery that I had caused to be wreathed from posts
before the door were all torn away by the gale. Here I welcomed my wife
as best I could, kissing her as she crossed the threshold and saying
certain sweet words that I had prepared, to which she smiled an answer.
Then the women took her to her chamber to make herself ready and
afterwards came the feast, which was sumptuous of its sort, though the
evil weather kept some of the guests away.

Scarcely had it begun when Kari, who of late had been sad-faced and
brooding, and who did not eat with us, entered and whispered to me that
my Master of Lading from the docks prayed to see me at once on a matter
which would brook no delay. Making excuse to Blanche and the company,
I went out to see him in the shop and found the man much disturbed. It
seemed that a certain vessel of mine that I had rechristened _Blanche_
in honour of my wife, which lay in the stream ready to sail, was in
great danger because of the tempest. Indeed, she was dragging at her
anchor, and it was feared that unless more anchors could be let down she
would come ashore and be wrecked against the jetty-heads or otherwise.
The reason why this had not been done, was that only the master and one
sailor were on board the vessel; the rest were feasting ashore in honour
of my marriage