"
The old man smiled upon them kindly, and said: "Nay, son,
we hear not that it shall be the worse for you in any wise
that ye shall become one flesh; and right joyful it is to us,
not only that we have found folk who seek to the Well
at the World's End, but also that there is such love as I
perceive there is betwixt such goodly and holy folk as ye be.
For hither we come year by year according to the behest
that we made to the fairest woman of the world, when she came
back to us from the Well at the World's End, and it is many
and many a year ago since we found any seekers after the Well
dwelling here. Therefore have we the more joy in you.
And we have brought hither matters good for you, as raiment,
and meal, and wine, on our sumpter-beasts; therefore as ye
have feasted us this morning, so shall we feast you this even.
And if ye will, we shall build for you in the grove yonder
such a bower as we build for our own folk on the night
of the wedding."
Ralph yeasaid this, and thanked them. So then the elder cried:
"Up, my sons, and show your deftness to these dear friends!"
Then the young men arose, naught loth, and when they had hoppled
their oxen and taken the burdens from off them, they all went
down the meadow together into the chestnut grove, and they
fell to and cut willow boughs, and such-like wood, and drave
stakes and wove the twigs together; and Ralph and Ursula worked
with them as they bade, and they were all very merry together:
because for those two wanderers it was a great delight to see
the faces of the children of men once more after so many months,
and to hold converse with them; while for their part the young men
marvelled at Ursula's beauty, and the pith and goodliness of Ralph.
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