"
Ralph held his peace, and Clement said in a cheerfuller voice:
"Moreover, there shall be strange and goodly things to see;
and the men of these parts be mostly goodly of body, and the women
goodlier yet, as we carles deem."
Ralph sighed, and answered not at once, but presently he said:
"Master Clement, canst thou give me the order of our goings
for these next days?" "Yea, certes," said Clement.
"In three days' time we shall come to the entry of the mountains:
two days thence we shall go without coming under any roof
save the naked heavens; the day thereafter shall we come
to the Mid-Mountain House, which is as it were an hostelry;
but it was built and is upheld by the folks that dwell anigh,
amongst whom be the folk of Cheaping Knowe; and that house
is hallowed unto truce, and no man smiteth another therein;
so that we oft come on the mountain strong-thieves there, and there
we be blithe together and feast together in good fellowship.
But when there be foemen in that house together, each man or each
fellowship departing, hath grace of an hour before his foeman follow.
Such are the customs of that house, and no man breaketh them ever.
But when we depart thence we shall ride all day and sleep
amidst the mountains, and if we be not beset that night or
the morrow's morn thereof, safe and unfoughten shall we come
to Cheaping Knowe. Doth that suffice thee as at this time?"
"Yea master," quoth Ralph.
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