And yet I must say this,
that I wot not why ye and these others are become to me,
who am alien to you, as very brothers." Said the Captain:
"There is this to be said of it, as was aforesaid, that all we
count thy winning of the Well at the World's End as valiancy
in thee, yea, and luck withal. But, moreover, she who was
Our Lady would have had thee for her friend had she lived,
and how then could we be less than friends to thee?
Depart in peace, my friend, and we look to see thee again
in a little while."
Therewith he kissed him, and bade farewell; and Ralph bade
his band to horse, and they were in the saddle in a twinkling,
and rode away from Hampton at a soft pace.
But as they went, Ralph turned to Ursula and said:
"And now belike shall we see Bourton Abbas once more,
and the house where first I saw thee. And O how sweet thou wert!
And I was so happy and so young."
"Yea," she said, "and sorely I longed for thee, and now we
have long been together, as it seemeth; and yet that long space
shall be but a little while of our lives. But, my friend,
as to Bourton Abbas, I misdoubt me of our seeing it;
for there is a nigher road by the by-ways to Higham,
which these men know, and doubtless that way we shall wend:
and I am glad thereof; for I shall tell thee, that somewhat I
fear that thorp, lest it should lay hold of me, and wake me
from a dream."
"Yea," said Ralph, "but even then, belike thou shouldst find me
beside thee; as if I had fallen asleep in the ale-house, and dreamed
of the Well at the World's End, and then awoke and seen the dear
barefoot maiden busying her about her house and its matters.
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