But as for me" (and therewith she
smiled on him as sweetly as her wrinkled old face might compass)
"I say to thee, abide beyond those two days if Roger cometh not,
and as long as thou art here I will make thee all the cheer I may.
And who knoweth but thou mayest meet worthy adventures here.
Such have ere now befallen good knights in this house or anigh it."
"I thank thee, mother," quoth Ralph, "and it is like that I may abide
here beyond the two days if the adventure befall me not ere then.
But at least I will bide the eating of my dinner here to-day."
"Well is thee, fair lord," said the carline. "If thou wilt but walk
in the meadow but a little half hour all shall be ready for thee.
Forsooth it had been dight before now, but that I waited thy coming
forth from thy chamber, for I would not wake thee. And the saints be
praised for the long sweet sleep that hath painted thy goodly cheeks."
So saying she hurried off to the buttery, leaving Ralph laughing
at her outspoken flattering words.
Then he got him out of the hall and the castle, for no door was shut,
and there was no man to be seen within or about the house.
So he walked to and fro the meadow and saw the neat-herds in
the pasture, and the hay-making folk beyond them, and the sound
of their voices came to him on the little airs that were breathing.
He thought he would talk to some of these folk ere the world
was much older, and also he noted between the river and the wood
many cots of the husbandmen trimly builded and thatched,
and amidst them a little church, white and delicate of fashion;
but as now his face was set toward the river because of the hot day.
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