mpany to me on the
way: and I deem that thou wilt be no churl when thou art glad."

"What," said Hallblithe, "art thou wending thither, thou old man?"

"Yea," said he, "nor shall any other be on the ship save thou and I, and
the mariners that waft us; and they forsooth shall not go aland there.
Why should not I go, since there are men to bear me aboard?"

Said Hallblithe, "And when thou art come aland there, what wilt thou do?"

"Thou shalt see, my son," said the Long-hoary. "It may be that thy good
wishes shall be of avail to me. But now since all this may only be if I
live through this night, and since my heart hath been warmed by the good
mead, and thy fellowship, and whereas I am somewhat sleepy, and it is
long past noon, go forth into the hall, and leave me to sleep, that I may
be as sound as eld will let me to-morrow. And as for thee, folk, both
men and women, shall presently come into the hall, and I deem not that
any shall meddle with thee; but if so be that any challenge thee,
whatsoever may be his words, answer thou to him, 'THE HOUSE OF THE
UNDYING,' and there will be an end of it. Only look thou to it that no
naked steel cometh out of thy scabbard. Go now, and if thou wilt, go out
of doors; yet art thou safer within doors and nigher unto me."

So Hallblithe went back into the main hall, and the sun had gotten round
now, and was shining into the hall, through the clerestory windows, so
that he saw clearly all that was therein. And he deemed the hall fairer
within than without; and especially over the shut-beds were many stories
carven in the panelling, and Hallblithe beheld them gladly. But of one
thing he marvelled, that whereas he was in an island of the
strong-thieves of the waters, and in their very home and chiefest
habitation, there were no ships or seas pictured in that imagery, but
fair groves and gardens, with flowery grass and fruited trees all about.
And there were fair women abiding therein, and lovely young men, and
warriors, and strange beasts and many marvels, and the ending of wrath
and beginning of pleasure and the crowning of love. And amidst these was
pictured oft and again a mighty king with a sword by his side and a crown
on his head; and ever was he smiling and joyous, so that Hallblithe, when
he looked on him, felt of better heart and smiled back on the carven
image.

So while Hallblithe looked on these things, and pondered his case
carefully, all alone as he was in that al