it is not all for nothing that thou hast had these months of rest;
for verily thou hast grown more of a woman thereby, and hast
sleekened and rounded much. Albeit, the haysel will wait no longer
for us, and the day after to-morrow we must fall to on it. But when
that is done, thou shalt be free to do thy green gown, or what thou
wilt, till wheat harvest is toward; and thereafter we shall see to
it. Or what sayest thou?

Birdalone wondered somewhat at this so gracious word, but not much;
for in her heart now was some guile born to meet the witch's guile;
so she knelt down and took the dame's hands and kissed them, and
said: I say nought, lady, save that I thank thee over and over again
that thou art become so good to me; and that I will full merrily work
for thee in the hay-field, or at whatsoever else thou wilt.

And indeed she was so light-hearted that she had so escaped from the
hand of the witch for that time, and above all, that she had gotten a
friend so kind and dear as the wood-woman, that her heart went out
even toward her mistress, so that she went nigh to loving her.



CHAPTER IX. OF BIRDALONE'S SWIMMING



Full fair was the morrow morn, and Birdalone arose betimes before the
sun was up, and she thought she would make of this a holiday before
the swink afield began again, since the witch was grown good toward
her. So she did on her fair shoes, and her new raiment, though the