Is this aught like to thy friend?"

He spake all this slowly and smoothly and that mocking smile came
into his face now and again. Ralph grew pale as he spoke and knitted
his brows as one in great wrath and grief; and he was slow to answer;
but at last he said "Yea," shortly and sharply.

Then said Morfinn: "And yet after all it might not be she:
for there might be another or two even in these parts of whom
all this might be said. But now I will tell thee of her raiment,
though there may be but little help to thee therein, as she may
have shifted it many times since thou hast seen her. Thus it was:
she was clad outwardly in a green gown, short of skirt as of one
wont to go afoot; somewhat straight in the sleeves as of one who
hath household work to do, and there was broidery many coloured
on the seams thereof, and a border of flower-work round the hem:
and this I noted, that a cantle of the skirt had been rent away
by some hap of the journey. Now what sayest thou, fair lord?
Have I done well to bring thee this tale?"

"O yea, yea," said Ralph, and he might not contain himself; but set
spurs to his horse and galloped on ahead for some furlong or so:
and then drew rein and gat off his horse, and made as if he would see
to his saddle-girths, for he might not refrain from weeping the sweet
and bitter tears of desire and fear, so stirred the soul within him.

Morfinn rode on quietly, and by then he came up, Ralph was
mounting again, and when he was in the saddle he turned
away his head from his fellow and said in a husky voice:
"Morfinn, I command thee, or if thou wilt I beseech thee,