Though it is but a little while ago, thou hast changed much since then,
and hast got another sort of look in the eyes than then they had.
Nay, nay," said he laughing, "not when thou lookest on me so frankly
and kindly; that is like thy look when we passed Thirly about.
Yea, I see the fashion of it: one look is for thy friends,
another for thy foes. God be praised for both. And now I am full,
I will go look on thy wife."
So he went up to the bed and stood over Ursula, while she,
who was not fully awake, smiled up into his face. The old man
smiled back at her and bent down and kissed her mouth, and said:
"I ask thy pardon, lady, and thine, my lord, if I be too free,
but such is our custom of the Downs; and sooth to say thy face is
one that even a old man should not fail to kiss if occasion serve,
so that he may go to paradise with the taste thereof on his lips."
"We are nowise hurt by thy love, friend," said Ursula;
"God make thy latter days of life sweet to thee!"
CHAPTER 23
They Ride to Bear Castle
But while they spake thus and were merry, the dawn had wellnigh
passed into daylight. Then Ralph bade old Giles sleep for an hour,
and went forth and called Roger and Richard and went to the great barn.
There he bade the watch wake up Stephen and all men, and they gat to horse
as speedily as they might, and were on the road ere the sun was fully up.
The spearmen of the thorp did not fail them, and numbered twenty and
three all told.
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