They greeted him not, nor he them, nor did he heed them much till they
were all gone by save three, and then he leapt into the road with a cry,
for who should be riding there but Blaise, his eldest brother,
and Richard the Red with him, both in good case by seeming; for Blaise
was clad in a black coat welted with gold, and rode a good grey palfrey,
and Richard was armed well and knightly.
They knew him at once, and drew rein, and Blaise lighted
down from his horse and cast his arms about Ralph, and said:
"O happy day! when two of the Upmeads kindred meet thus
in an alien land! But what maketh thee here, Ralph?
I thought of thee as merry and safe in Upmeads?"
Ralph said smiling, for his heart leapt up at the sight of his kindred:
"Nay, must I not seek adventures like the rest? So I stole myself
away from father and mother." "Ill done, little lord!" said Blaise,
stroking Ralph's cheek.
Then up came Richard, and if Blaise were glad, Richard was twice glad,
and quoth he: "Said I not, Lord Blaise, that this chick would be the hardest
of all to keep under the coop? Welcome to the Highways, Lord Ralph!
But where is thine horse? and whence and whither is it now?
Hast thou met with some foil and been held to ransom?"
Ralph found it hard and grievous and dull work to answer;
for now again his sorrow had taken hold of him: so he said:
"Yea, Richard, I have had adventures, and have lost rather than won;
but at least I am a free man, and have spent but little gold
on my loss.
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