and the man beheld his scowling face innocently, and took no heed of it.

Then said Ralph: "As to Bull Shockhead, I will speak to him anon;
but I will not take him with me; for indeed I fear lest his mountain-pride
grow up over greenly at whiles and entangle me in some thicket of peril
hard to win out of."

"Well," said Clement, "and when wilt thou depart?"
"To-morrow," said Ralph, "if my faring-fellow be ready for me by then."
"I am all ready," said the man: "if thou wilt ride out by the east
gate about two hours before noon to-morrow, I will abide thee
on a good horse with all that we may need for the journey:
and now I ask leave." "Thou hast it," said Clement.

So the man departed, and those two being left alone, Master Clement said:
"Well, I deemed that nothing else would come of it: and I fear
that thy gossip will be ill-content with me; for great is the peril."
"Yea," said Ralph, "and great the reward." Clement smiled and sighed,
and said: "Well, lad, even so hath a many thought before thee, wise men
as well as fools." Ralph looked at him and reddened, and departed
from him a little, and went walking in the cloister there to and fro,
and pondered these matters; and whatever he might do, still would
that trim figure be before his eyes which he had looked on so gladly
erewhile in the hostel of Bourton Abbas; and he said aloud to himself:
"Surely she needeth me, and draweth me to her whether I will or no."
So wore the day.



CHAPTER 31