Gentiles haunted there; others again that it was the faery rather,
but they full of malice and guile. But most commonly it was deemed
that the devils swarmed amidst of its thickets, and that wheresoever
a man sought to, who was once environed by it, ever it was the Gate
of Hell whereto he came. And the said wood was called Evilshaw.

Nevertheless the cheaping-town throve not ill; for whatso evil things
haunted Evilshaw, never came they into Utterhay in such guise that
men knew them, neither wotted they of any hurt that they had of the
Devils of Evilshaw.

Now in the said cheaping-town, on a day, it was market and high noon,
and in the market-place was much people thronging; and amidst of them
went a woman, tall, and strong of aspect, of some thirty winters by
seeming, black-haired, hook-nosed and hawk-eyed, not so fair to look
on as masterful and proud. She led a great grey ass betwixt two
panniers, wherein she laded her marketings. But now she had done her
chaffer, and was looking about her as if to note the folk for her
disport; but when she came across a child, whether it were borne in
arms or led by its kinswomen, or were going alone, as were some, she
seemed more heedful of it, and eyed it more closely than aught else.

So she strolled about till she was come to the outskirts of the
throng, and there she happened on a babe of some two winters, which
was crawling about on its hands and knees, with scarce a rag upon its
little body. She watched it, and looked whereto it was going, and
saw a woman sitting on a stone, with none anigh her, her face bowed
over her knees as if she were weary or sorry. Unto her crept the
little one, murmuring and merry, and put its arms about the woman's
legs, and buried its face in the folds of her gown: she looked up