"
Then he kissed her dearly on the mouth and led her forth, and none went
with them, and they mounted and went their ways.
But Ralph said: "I deem that we should ride the meadow to the bridge,
because that way lies the great door of the hall, and if I know my
father and Nicholas they will look for us that way. Dost thou yet
fear these dead men, sweetheart, whom our folk slew this morning?"
"Nay," she said, "it has been a long time since the morning, and they,
and their fieriness which has so burned out, are now to me as a tale
that hath been told. It is the living that I am going to, and I hope
to do well by them."
Came they then to the bridge-end and there was no man there, nought but
the kine that were wandering about over the dewy grass of eventide.
Then they rode over the bridge and through the orchard, and still
there was no man, and all gates were open wide. So they came
into the base-court of the house, and it also was empty of folk;
and they came to the great doors of the hall and they were open wide,
and they could see through them that the hall was full of folk,
and therein by the light of the low sun that streamed in at the
shot-window at the other end they saw the faces of men and the gleam
of steel and gold.
So they lighted down from their horses, and took hand in hand and entered
bright-faced and calm, and goodly beyond the goodliness of men; then indeed
all that folk burst forth into glad cries, and tossed up their weapons,
and many wept for joy.
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