the brighter for a mouthful, king's son and gossip."

She took him by the hand and did the beads on his neck and
kissed and fondled him before he sat down, while the goodman
looked on, grinning rather sheepishly, but said nought to them;
and only called on his boy to lead the destrier to stable.
So when they were set down, the chapman took up the word
where it had been dropped, and said: "So, Lord Ralph,
thou must needs take to adventures, being, as thou deemest,
full grown. That is all one as the duck taketh to water
despite of the hen that hath hatched her. Well, it was not
to be thought that Upmeads would hold you lords much longer.
Or what is gone with my lords your brethren?"

Said Ralph: "They have departed at all adventure, north, east,
and west, each bearing our father's blessing and a bag of pennies.
And to speak the truth, goodman, for I perceive I am no
doctor at lying, my father and mother would have me stay
at home when my brethren were gone, and that liketh me not;
therefore am I come out to seek my luck in the world:
for Upmeads is good for a star-gazer, maybe, or a simpler,
or a priest, or a worthy good carle of the fields, but not
for a king's son with the blood running hot in his veins.
Or what sayest thou, gossip?"

Quoth the dame: "I could weep for thy mother; but for thee nought at all.
It is good that thou shouldest do thy will in the season of youth
and the days of thy pleasure. Yea, and I deem that thou shalt come
back again great and worshipful; and I am called somewhat foreseeing.
Only look to it that thou keep the pretty thing that I have just given thee."