But the old man and his grandsons turned their heads away from
his weeping, and got off their horses, and went up to the house-door,
whereby were now standing a carle and a quean of their people.
But Ralph slowly gat off his horse and stood by Ursula who was on
the ground already, but would not touch her, for he was ashamed.
But she looked on him kindly and said: "Dear friend, there is
no need for shame; for though I be young, I know how grievous it
is when the dead that we have loved come across our ways, and we
may not speak to them, nor they to us. So I will but bid thee
be comforted and abide in thy love for the living and the dead."
His tears brake out again at that word, for he was but young,
and for a while there was a lull in the strife that had beset his days.
But after a little he looked up, and dashed the tears from his eyes
and smiled on Ursula and said: "The tale she told me of this place,
the sweetness of it came back upon me, and I might not forbear."
She said: "O friend, thou art kind, and I love thee."
So then they joined hands and went through the garth together, and up to
the door, where stood the wardens, who, when they saw them turning thither,
came speedily down the path to them, and would have knelt in worship to them;
but they would not suffer it, but embraced and kissed them, and thanked
them many times for their welcome. The said wardens, both carle and quean,
were goodly folk of middle age, stalwart, and kind of face.
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