"
She laughed merrily and said: "Sir nurse, take thy bantling
and cosset him in whatso corner thou wilt, and I will turn
away mine eyes from thy caresses."
So Richard took Ralph into a window, and sat down beside him and said:
"Mayhappen I shall sadden thee by my question, but I mind me what our last
talking together was about, and therefore I must needs ask thee this,
was that other one fairer than this one is?"
Ralph knit his brows: "I wot not," quoth he, "since she is gone,
that other one."
"Yea," said Richard, "but this I say, that she is without a blemish.
Did ye drink of the Well together?"
"Yea, surely," said Ralph. Said Richard: "And is this
woman of a good heart? Is she valiant?" "Yea, yea,"
said Ralph, flushing red.
"As valiant as was that other?" said Richard. Said Ralph:
"How may I tell, unless they were tried in one way?"
Yet Richard spake: "Are ye wedded?" "Even so," said Ralph.
"Dost thou deem her true?" said Richard. "Truer than myself,"
said Ralph, in a voice which was somewhat angry.
Quoth Richard: "Then is it better than well, and better than well;
for now hast thou wedded into the World of living men, and not to a dream
of the Land of Fairy."
Ralph sat silent a little, and as if he were swallowing somewhat;
at last he said: "Old friend, I were well content if thou wert
to speak such words no more; for it irks me, and woundeth my heart."
Said Richard: "Well, I will say no more thereof; be content therefore,
for now I have said it, and thou needest not fear me, what I have to say
thereon any more, and thou mayst well wot that I must needs have said
somewhat of this.
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