Fare thee well, gossip! Little did I look for it when I rose up
this morning and nothing irked me save the dulness of our town,
and the littleness of men's doings therein, that I should have
to cut off a piece of my life from me this morning, and say,
farewell gossip, as now again I do."

Therewith she kissed him on either cheek and embraced him;
and it might be said of her and him that she let him go thereafter;
for though as aforesaid he loved her, and praised her kindness,
he scarce understood the eagerness of her love for him;
whereas moreover she saw him not so often betwixt Upmeads
and Wulstead: and belike she herself scarce understood it.
Albeit she was a childless woman.

So when he had got to horse, she watched him riding a moment,
and saw how he waved his hand to her as he turned the corner
of the market-place, and how a knot of lads and lasses stood
staring on him after she lost sight of him. Then she turned her
back into the chamber and laid her head on the table and wept.
Then came in the goodman quietly and stood by her and she
heeded him not. He stood grinning curiously on her awhile,
and then laid his hand on her shoulder, and said as she raised
her face to him:

"Sweetheart, it availeth nought; when thou wert young and
exceeding fair, he was but a little babe, and thou wert looking
in those days to have babes of thine own; and then it was too soon:
and now that he is such a beauteous young man, and a king's
son withal, and thou art wedded to a careful carle of no
weak heart, and thou thyself art more than two-score years old,