All these they bore first to Ralph and Ursula,
and their two fellows, and then dealt them to their own folk:
and they feasted and were merry in despite of that tale of evil tidings.
They brought also bowls and pitchers of wine that was good and strong,
and cider of their orchards, and called many a health to the new
Lord and his kindred.
Thus then they abode a-feasting till the sun was westering
and the shadows waxed about them, and then at last Ralph rose
up and called to horse, and the other wayfarers arose also,
and the horses were led up to them. Then the maidens, made bold
by the joy of the feast, and being stirred to the heart by much
beholding of this beloved Lord, cast off their shamefacedness
and crowded about him, and kissed his raiment and his hands:
some even, though trembling, and more for love than fear,
prayed him for kisses, and he, nothing loath, laughed merrily
and laid his hands on their shoulders or took them by the chins,
and set his lips to the sweetness of their cheeks and their lips,
of those that asked and those that refrained; so that their hearts
failed them for love of him, and when he was gone, they knew not how
to go back to their houses, or the places that were familiar to them.
Therewith he and his got into their saddles and rode away slowly,
because of the thronging about them of that folk, who followed
them to the edge of the wood, and even entered a little thereinto;
and then stood gazing on Ralph and his fellows after they had
spurred on and were riding down a glade of the woodland.
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