Joscelyn: As a story it was well enough to pass an hour. I would be
willing to learn whether the King regained his kingdom or no.

Martin: I think he did, since you may go to this day to the little
city on the banks of the Adur which is re-named after his Barn. But
I doubt whether he lived there, or anywhere but in the Barn where he
and his beloved began their life of work and prayer and mirth and
loving-rule. And died as happily as they had lived.

Joan: I am glad they lived happily. I was afraid the tale would end
unhappily.

Joyce: And so was I. For when the King roamed the hills for a whole
week without success, I began to fear he would never find the Woman
again.

Jennifer: I for my part feared lest he should not open his lips
during the fourth vigil, and so must become a Dove for the remainder
of his days.

Jane: It was but by the grace of a moment he did not drown himself
in the Pond.

Jessica: Or what if, by some unlucky chance, he had never come to
the forge at all?

Martin: In any of these events, I grant you, the tale must have
ended in disaster. And this is the special wonder of love-tales:
that though they may end unhappily in a thousand ways, and happily