"I am that holy man," quoth Roger, grinning; "not that I am
so much of that, either. I have not come hither to pray or
fast overmuch, but to rest my soul and be out of the way of men.
For all things have changed since my Lady passed away."
He looked about, and saw Ursula just rising up from the ground and
the Sage stirring, while Richard yet hugged his bracken bed, snoring.
So he said: "And who be these, and why hast thou taken to the wildwood?
Yea lad, I see of thee, that thou hast gotten another Lady; and if mine
eyes do not fail me she is fair enough. But there be others as fair;
while the like to our Lady that was, there is none such."
He fell silent a while, and Ralph turned about to the others,
for by this time Richard also was awake, and said:
"This man is the hermit of whom we were told."
Roger said: "Yea, I am the hermit and the holy man;
and withal I have a thing to hear and a thing to tell.
Ye were best to come with me, all of you, to my house in the woods;
a poor one, forsooth, but there is somewhat of victual here,
and we can tell and hearken therein well sheltered and at peace.
So to horse, fair folk."
They would not be bidden twice, but mounted and went along with him,
who led them by a thicket path about a mile, till they came to a lawn
where-through ran a stream; and there was a little house in it,
simple enough, of one hall, built with rough tree-limbs and reed thatch.
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