Now is all said, my masters, and I pray you let us depart in peace;
for time presses."
Then all they (and this time women as well as men) cried out joyfully:
"Hail to our lord! and long life to our helper." And the women withal drew
nearer to him, and some came close up to him, as if they would touch him
or kiss his hand, but by seeming durst not, but stood blushing before him,
and he looked on them, smiling kindly.
But the old man laid his hand on his knee and said:
"Lord, wouldst thou not light down and enter thy Castle;
for none hath more right there now than thou.
The Prior of the Thorn hath told us that there is no lineage
of the Lady left to claim it; and none other might ever have
claimed it save the Baron of Sunway, whom thou hast slain.
And else would we have slain him, since he slew our Lady."
Ralph shook his head and said: "Nay, old friend, and new vassal,
this we may not do: we must on speedily, for belike there is work
for us to do nearer home."
"Yea, Lord," said the carle, "but at least light down and sit
for a while under this fair oak-tree in the heat of the day,
and eat a morsel with us, and drink a cup, that thy luck may
abide with us when thou art gone."
Ralph would not naysay him; so he and all of them got off
their horses, and sat down on the green grass under the oak:
and that people gathered about and sat down by them, save that a
many of the women went to their houses to fetch out the victual.
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