more of like countenance, if I be content with thee meanwhile.

The woman looked on the gold, and tears came into her eyes; but she
laughed and said: Houseroom may I give thee for an hour truly, and
therewithal water of the well, and a mouse's meal of bread. If thou
deem that worth three nobles, how may I say thee nay, when they may
save the life of my little one. But what else wouldst thou of me?
Little enough, said the alien; so lead me straight to thine house.

So went they forth of the market-place, and the woman led them, the
alien and the ass, out of the street through the west gate of
Utterhay, that, to wit, which looked on Evilshaw, and so into a
scattering street without the wall, the end of which neared a corner
of the wood aforesaid: the houses there were nought so evil of
fashion, but whereas they were so nigh unto the Devil's Park, rich
men might no longer away with them, and they were become wares for
poor folk.

Now the townswoman laid her hand on the latch of the door that was
hers, and threw the door open; then she put forth her palm to the
other, and said: Wilt thou give me the first gold now, since rest is
made sure for thee, as long as thou wilt? The ass-leader put it into
her hand, and she took it and laid it on her baby's cheek, and then
kissed both gold and child together; then she turned to the alien and
said: As for thy way-beast, I have nought for him, neither hay nor
corn: thou wert best to leave him in the street. The stranger
nodded a yeasay, and the three went in together, the mother, the
child, and the alien.

Not right small was the chamber; but there was little therein; one