It was but little after noon of a fair
June day, for Ralph had slumbered as it behoved a young man.
The light wind bore into the chamber the sweet scents of
the early summer, the chief of all of them being the savour
of the new-cut grass, for about the wide meadows the carles
and queens were awork at the beginning of hay harvest;
and late as it was in the day, more than one blackbird
was singing from the bushes of the castle pleasance.
Ralph sighed for very pleasure of life before he had yet
well remembered where he was or what had befallen of late;
but as he stood at the window and gazed over the meadows,
and the memory of all came back to him, he sighed once
more for a lack of somewhat that came into his heart,
and he smiled shamefacedly, though there was no one near,
as his thought bade him wonder if amongst the haymaking women
yonder there were any as fair as those yellow-clad thrall-women
of the Burg; and as he turned from the window a new hope
made his heart beat, for he deemed that he had been brought
to that house that he might meet some one who should change
his life and make him a new man.
So he did on his raiment and went his ways down to the hall, and looked
about for Roger, but found him not, nor any one else save the carline,
who presently came in from the buttery, and of whom he asked,
where was Roger. Quoth she: "He has been gone these six hours,
but hath left a word for thee, lord, to wit, that he beseeches thee
to abide him here for two days at the least, and thereafter thou
art free to go if thou wilt.
Pages:
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138