Then the young men greeted Gold-mane, and the old man said: 'Art
thou of Burgstead? then wilt thou be of the House of the Face, and
thy name will be Face-of-god; for that man is called the fairest of
the Dale, and there shall be none fairer than thou.'

Face-of-god laughed and said: 'There be but few mirrors in Burgdale,
and I have no mind to journey west to the cities to see what manner
of man I be: that were ill husbandry. But now I have heard the
names of the three swains, tell me thy name, father!'

Spake the huntress: 'This is my father's brother, and his name is
Wood-father; or ye shall call him so: and I am called Bow-may
because I shoot well in the bow: and this old carline is my eme's
wife, and now belike my mother, if I need one. But thou, fair-faced
Dalesman, little dost thou need a mirror in the Dale so long as women
abide there; for their faces shall be instead of mirrors to tell thee
whether thou be fair and lovely.'

Thereat they all laughed and fell to their victual, which was
abundant, of wood-venison and mountain-fowl, but of bread was no
great plenty; wine lacked not, and that of the best; and Gold-mane
noted that the cups and the apparel of the horns and mazers were not
of gold nor gilded copper, but of silver; and he marvelled thereat,
for in the Dale silver was rare.

So they ate and drank, and Gold-mane looked ever on the Friend, and
spake much with her, and he deemed her friendly indeed, and she
seemed most pleased when he spoke best, and led him on to do so.
Wild-wearer was but of few words, and those somewhat harsh; yet was