"
Ralph led them round by the ford, so that they might not come
across the corpses of the robbers; but already were the Upmeads
carles at work digging trenches wherein to bury them.
So Ralph led his father and his mother to the gate of the garth
of High House; then he got off his horse and helped them down,
and as he so dealt with his father, he said to him:
"Thou art springy and limber yet, father; maybe thou wilt put
on thine helm this year to ride the Debateable Wood with me."
The old man laughed and said: "Maybe, son; but as now it is time
for thee to enter under our roof-tree once more."
"Nay," said Ralph, "but go ye in and sit in the high-seat and abide me.
For did I not go straight back to you from the field of battle;
and can I suffer it that any other hand than mine should lead my wife
into the hall and up to the high-seat of my fathers; and therefore I go
to fetch her from the house of Richard the Red where she is abiding me;
but presently I shall lead her in, and do ye then with us what ye will."
Therewith he turned about and rode his ways to Richard's house,
which was but a half-mile thence. But his father and mother
laughed when he was gone, and King Peter said: "There again!
thou seest, wife, it is he that commands and we that obey."
"O happy hour that so it is!" said the Lady, "and happy now shall
be the wearing of our days."
So they entered the garth and came into the house, and were welcomed
with all joy by Nicholas, and told him all that Ralph had said,
and bade him array the house as he best might; for there was much
folk about the High House, though the Upmeads carles and queans
had taken the more part of the host to their houses, which they
had delivered from the fire and sword, and they made much of them
there with a good heart.
Pages:
722
723
724
725
726
727
728
729
730
731
732
733
734
735
736
737
738
739
740
741
742
743
744
745
746