"Furthermore, when he hath sworn, then shall the vassals swear to him
according to ancient custom, to be true to him and hardy in all due service.
But so please you I will not abide till then, but will kneel to him
and to his Lady and Queen here and now."
Even so he did, and took Ralph's hand in his and swore service
to him such as was due; and he knelt to Ursula also, and bade
her all thanks for what she had done in the helping of his son;
and they raised him up and made much of him and of Ralph's mother;
and great was the joy of all folk in the hall.
So the feast went on a while till the night grew old, and folk
must fare bedward. Then King Peter and his wife brought Ralph
and Ursula to the chamber of the solar, the kingly chamber, which was
well and goodly dight with hangings and a fair and glorious bed,
and was newly decked with such fair flowers as the summer
might furnish; and at the threshold King Peter stayed them and said:
"Kinsman, and thou, dear friend, this is become your due chamber and
resting-place while ye live in the world, and this night of all others
it shall be a chamber of love; for ye are, as it were, new wedded,
since now first ye are come amongst the kindred as lover and beloved;
and thou, Ursula, art now at last the bride of this ancient house;
now tell me, doth it not look friendly and kindly on thee?"
"O yea, yea," she said. "Come thou, my man and my darling and let
us be alone in the master-chamber of this ancient House.
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