Fast sailed the Katherine over the seas, and nought befell to tell
of, either to herself or her crew. She came to one cheaping-town
and then to another, and so on to a third and a fourth; and at each
was buying and selling after the manner of chapmen; and Walter not
only looked on the doings of his father's folk, but lent a hand,
what he might, to help them in all matters, whether it were in
seaman's craft, or in chaffer. And the further he went and the
longer the time wore, the more he was eased of his old trouble
wherein his wife and her treason had to do.

But as for the other trouble, to wit his desire and longing to come
up with those three, it yet flickered before him; and though he had
not seen them again as one sees people in the streets, and as if he
might touch them if he would, yet were their images often before his
mind's eye; and yet, as time wore, not so often, nor so troublously;
and forsooth both to those about him and to himself, he seemed as a
man well healed of his melancholy mood.

Now they left that fourth stead, and sailed over the seas and came
to a fifth, a very great and fair city, which they had made more
than seven months from Langton on Holm; and by this time was Walter
taking heed and joyance in such things as were toward in that fair
city, so far from his kindred, and especially he looked on the fair
women there, and desired them, and loved them; but lightly, as
befalleth young men.

Now this was the last country whereto the Katherine was boun; so
there they abode some ten months in daily chaffer, and in pleasuring