So passed the evening, and he went to bed and slept as a young
man should, and the next day he was up betimes and went abroad
and mingled with the carles and queens afield; but this time he spake
not of the Lady, and heard nought to heed from any of that folk.
So he went back to the castle and gat him a bow and arrows, and entered
the thicket of the wood nigh where he and Roger first came out of it.
He had prayed a young man of the folk to go with him, but he was not over
willing to go, though he would not say wherefore. So Ralph went himself
by himself and wandered some way into the wood, and saw nought worse
than himself. As he came back, making a circuit toward the open meadows,
he happened on a herd of deer in a lonely place, half wood half meadow,
and there he slew a hart with one shaft, for he was a deft bowman.
Then he went and fetched a leash of carles, who went with him somewhat
less than half willingly, and between them they broke up the hart
and carried him home to the castle, where the carline met them.
She smiled on Ralph and praised the venison, and said withal that the hunting
was well done; "For, as fond and as fair as thou mayst be, it is not
good that young men should have their minds set on one thing only."
Therewith she led him in to his meat, and set him down and served him;
and all the while of his dinner he was longing to ask her if she
deemed that the Lady would come that day, since it was the last day
of those which Roger had bidden him wait; but the words would not out
of his mouth.
Pages:
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150