it is too late. Yet thou didst well to give our lord the money.
Lo! here is wherewithal to fill up the lack in thy chest;
and here is a toy for thee in place of the pair of beads thou
gavest him; and I bid thee look on it as if I had given him
my share of the money and the beads."

She turned to Clement, and took the bag of money,
and the chaplet which he held out to her, and she said:
"God wot thou art no ill man, my husband, but would God I
had a son like to him!"

She still wept somewhat; but the chapman said: "Let it rest there,
sweetheart! let it rest there! It may be a year or twain
before thou seest him again: and then belike he shall be come
back with some woman whom he loves better than any other;
and who knows but in a way he may deem himself our son.
Meanwhile thou hast done well, sweetheart, so be glad."

Therewith he kissed her and went his ways to his merchandize,
and she to the ordering of her house, grieved but not unhappy.



CHAPTER 4

Ralph Rideth the Downs


As for Ralph, he rode on with a merry heart, and presently came
to an end of the plain country, and the great downs rose up