“MasterClement，howfardostthoumakeittoHigham-on-the-Way？”
“Amatteroffortymiles。”saidtheChapman；“because，asthouwottest，ifyeridesouthfromhence，yeshallpresentlybringyournoseupagainstthebigdowns，andmustneedsclimbthematonce；andwhenyeareatthetopofBearHill，andlooksouthawayyeshallseenoughtbutdownsondownswithneveraroadtocallaroad，andneveracastle，orchurch，orhomestead：noughtbutsomeshepherd’shut；
oratthemostthelittlehouseofaholymanwithalittlechapeltherebyinsomeswellyofthechalk，wherethewaterhathtrickledintoapool；forotherwisetheplaceiswaterless。”
Therewithhetookalongpullatthetankardbyhisside，andwenton：
“Highamisbeyondallthat，andoutintothefertileplain；
andalittleriverhightColdlakewindethaboutthemeadowsthere；
anditisafairland；thoughlookyouthewoolofthedownsisgood，good，good！Ihavefoisonofthisyear’sfleeceswithme。
YeshallraisenonesuchinUpmeads。”
Ralphsatsilentalittle，asifpondering，andthenhestartedupandsaid：
“GoodmasterClement，wehaveeatenthymeatandthanktheeforthatandothermatters。Wiltthounowbekinder，andbidthyboybringroundFalconourhorse；forwehavefartogo，andmustbegonestraight-away。”
“Yea，lord。”saidClement，“evensowillIdo。”Andhemutteredunderhisbreath；“Thoutalkestbig，mylad，withthy’we’；butthouartpressedlestNicholasbeherepresentlytofetchtheeback；
andtosaysoothIwouldhishandwereonthyshoulderevennow。”
Thenhespakealoudagain，andsaid：
“Imustnowbegonetomylads，andIwillsendoneroundwiththywar-horse。Buttakemyrede，mylord，andbecomethemanoftheAbbotofSt。Mary’sofHigham，andallwillbewell。”
Therewithheedgedhimselfoutofthechamber，andthedamefelltomakingamightyclatterwiththevesselandtrenchersandcupsontheboard，whileRalphwalkedupanddownthechamberhiswar-gearjinglinguponhim。
Presentlythedamelefthertable-clatterandcameuptoRalphandlookedkindlyintohisfaceandsaid：“Gossip，hastthouperchanceanymoney？”
Heflushedupred，andthenhisfacefell；yethespakegaily：
“Yea，gossip，Ihavebothwhiteandred：therearethreegoldencrownsinmypouch，andalittleflockofsilverpennies：
forsoothIsaynotasmanyaswouldreachfromheretoUpmeads，iftheywerelaidoneaftertheother。”
Shesmiledandpattedhischeek，andsaid：
“Thouartnoveryprudentchild，king’sson。Butitcomesintomymindthatmymasterdidnotmeantheetogoawayempty-handed；
elsehadhenotdepartedandleftustwaintogether。”
Therewithshewenttothecredencethatstoodinacorner，andopenedadrawerthereinandtookoutalittlebag，andgaveitintoRalph’shand，andsaid：“Thisisthegiftofthegossip；andthoumaysttakeitwithoutshame；
allthemorebecauseifthyfatherhadbeenaworserman，andaharderlordhewouldhavehadmoretogivethee。
Butnowthouhastasmuchormoreasanyoneofthybrethren。”
Hetookthebagsmilingandshame-faced，butshelookedonhimfondlyandsaid：
“NowIknownotwhetherIshalllayoldNicholasonthineheelswhenhecomethafterthee，ascomehewillfullsurely；
orwhetherIshallsuffertheoldsleuth-houndnoseoutthyslotofhimself，asfullsurelyhewillsetontoit。”
“Thoumightesttellhim。”saidRalph，“thatIamgonetotakeservicewiththeAbbotofSt。Mary’sofHigham：hah？”
Shelaughedandsaid：“Wiltthoudoso，lord，andfollowtheredeofthatgoodmanofmine，whothinkethhimselfaswiseasSolomon？”
Ralphsmiledandansweredhernothing。
“Well。”shesaid，“Ishallsaywhatlikesmewhenthehourisathand。
Lo，here！thinehorse。Abideyetamomentoftime，andthengowhitherthouneedsmust，likethewindofthesummerday。”
TherewithshewentoutofthechamberandcamebackagainwithascripwhichshegavetoRalphandsaid：“Hereinisaflaskofdrinkforthewaterlesscountry，andalittlemeatfortheway。
Faretheewell，gossip！LittledidIlookforitwhenIroseupthismorningandnothingirkedmesavethedulnessofourtown，andthelittlenessofmen’sdoingstherein，thatIshouldhavetocutoffapieceofmylifefrommethismorning，andsay，farewellgossip，asnowagainIdo。”
Therewithshekissedhimoneithercheekandembracedhim；
anditmightbesaidofherandhimthatshelethimgothereafter；
forthoughasaforesaidhelovedher，andpraisedherkindness，hescarceunderstoodtheeagernessofherloveforhim；
whereasmoreovershesawhimnotsooftenbetwixtUpmeadsandWulstead：andbelikesheherselfscarceunderstoodit。
Albeitshewasachildlesswoman。
Sowhenhehadgottohorse，shewatchedhimridingamoment，andsawhowhewavedhishandtoherasheturnedthecornerofthemarket-place，andhowaknotofladsandlassesstoodstaringonhimaftershelostsightofhim。Thensheturnedherbackintothechamberandlaidherheadonthetableandwept。
Thencameinthegoodmanquietlyandstoodbyherandsheheededhimnot。Hestoodgrinningcuriouslyonherawhile，andthenlaidhishandonhershoulder，andsaidassheraisedherfacetohim：
“Sweetheart，itavailethnought；whenthouwertyoungandexceedingfair，hewasbutalittlebabe，andthouwertlookinginthosedaystohavebabesofthineown；andthenitwastoosoon：
andnowthatheissuchabeauteousyoungman，andaking’ssonwithal，andthouartweddedtoacarefulcarleofnoweakheart，andthouthyselfartmorethantwo-scoreyearsold，itistoolate。Yetthoudidstwelltogiveourlordthemoney。
Lo！hereiswherewithaltofillupthelackinthychest；
andhereisatoyfortheeinplaceofthepairofbeadsthougavesthim；andIbidtheelookonitasifIhadgivenhimmyshareofthemoneyandthebeads。”
SheturnedtoClement，andtookthebagofmoney，andthechapletwhichheheldouttoher，andshesaid：
“Godwotthouartnoillman，myhusband，butwouldGodI
hadasonliketohim！”
Shestillweptsomewhat；butthechapmansaid：“Letitrestthere，sweetheart！letitrestthere！Itmaybeayearortwainbeforethouseesthimagain：andthenbelikeheshallbecomebackwithsomewomanwhomhelovesbetterthananyother；
andwhoknowsbutinawayhemaydeemhimselfourson。
Meanwhilethouhastdonewell，sweetheart，sobeglad。”
Therewithhekissedherandwenthiswaystohismerchandize，andshetothe
RalphRideththeDownsAsforRalph，herodeonwithamerryheart，andpresentlycametoanendoftheplaincountry，andthegreatdownsroseupbeforehimwithawhiteroadwindinguptothetopofthem。
Justbeforetheslopesbegantorisewasalittlethorpbesideastream，andtherebyafairchurchandalittlehouseofCanons：
soRalphrodetowardthechurchtoseeifthereinwereanaltarofSt。Nicholas，whowashisgoodlordandpatron，thathemightaskofhimablessingonhisjourney。
Butashecameuptothechurchyard-gatehesawagreatblackhorsetiedtheretoasifabidingsomeone；andashelighteddownfromhissaddlehesawamancominghastilyfromoutthechurch-doorandstridingswiftlytowardthesaidgate。
Hewasabigman，andarmed；forhehadabrightsteelsalletonhishead，whichcoveredhisfaceallsavetheendofhischin；andplateshehadonhislegsandarms。
Heworeagreencoatoverhisarmour，andthereonwaswroughtingoldanimageofatreeleafless：hehadalittlesteelaxeabouthisneck，andagreatswordhungbyhisside。
Ralphstoodlookingonhimwithhishandonthelatchofthegate，butwhenthemancametheretohetoreitopenroughlyandshovedthroughatonce，drivingRalphback，sothathewell-nighoversethim，andsosprangtohishorseandswunghimselfintothesaddle，justasRalphsteadiedhimselfandruffleduptohim，halfdrawinghisswordfromthescabbardthewhile。
Buttheman-at-armscriedout，“Putitback，putitback！
Ifthoumustneedsdealwitheverymanthatshoveththeeinhishaste，thylifeisliketobebutshort。”
Hewassettlinghimselfinhissaddleashespoke，andnowheshookhisrein，androdeoffspeedilytowardthehill-road。
ButwhenhewassofaroffthatRalphmightbutseehisfacebutasapieceofreddishcolour，hereinedupforamomentoftime，andturningroundinhissaddlelifteduphissalletandlefthisfacebare，andcriedoutasiftoRalph，“Thefirsttime！”
Andthenletthehead-piecefallagain，andsetspurstohishorseandgalloppedaway。
Ralphstoodlookingathimashegotsmalleronthelongwhiteroad，andwonderingwhatthismightmean，andhowtheunknownmanshouldknowhim，ifhedidknowhim。
Butpresentlyhelethiswonderrunoffhim，andwenthiswaysintothechurch，whereinhefoundhisgoodlordandfriendSt。Nicholas，andsosaidapaternosterbeforehisaltar，andbesoughthishelp，andmadehisoffering；andthendepartedandgattohorseagain，androdesoftlythewaytothedowns，forthedaywashot。
Thewaywassteepandwinding，withahollowcupofthehillsbelowit，andaboveitabentsosteepthatRalphcouldseebutafewyardsofitonhislefthand；butwhenhecametothehill’sbrowandcouldlookdownonthesaidbent，hesawstrangefiguresonthefacethereof，donebycuttingawaytheturfsothatthechalkmightshowclear。Atreewithleaveswasdoneonthathill-side，andoneitherhandofitabeastlikeabearrampingupagainstthetree；andthesesignswereveryancient。
Thishill-sidecarvingcouldnotbeseenfromthethorpbeneath，whichwascalledNetherton，becausethebentlookedwestwarddownintothehollowofthehillabovesaid；butfromnighertoWulsteadtheywerecleartosee，andRalphhadoftenbeheldthem，butneversonigh：
andthathillwascalledafterthemBearHill。Atthetopofitwasanearth-workoftheancientfolk，whichalsowascalledBearCastle。
AndnowRalphrodeoverthehill’sbrowintoit；forthewallshadbeenbeatendowninplaceslongandlongago。
Nowherodeupthewall，andatthetopmostofitturnedandlookedabackonthebluecountrywhichhehadriddenthroughstretchingmanyaleaguebelow，andtriedifhecouldpickoutUpmeadsfromamongstthediversewealthofthesummerland：
butUpmeadsWaterwashidden，andhecouldseenothingtobesureoftotellhimwhereaboutstheHighHousestood；
yethedeemedthathecouldmakeouttheDebateableWoodandthehillsbehinditwellenough。Thenheturnedhishorseabout，andhadthedown-countrybeforehim；longlinesofhillstowit，onerisingbehindtheotherlikethewavesofasomewhatquietsea：
notreesthereon，norhousesthathemightseethence：
noughtbutagreenroadthatwentwavingupanddownbeforehimgreenerthanthemainfaceoftheslopes。
Helookedatitallforaminuteortwoasthesouth-westwindwentpasthisears，andplayedastrangetuneontheinnumerablestemsofthebentsandthehard-stalkedblossoms，towhichthebeessangcounterpoint。
Thentheheartarosewithinhim，andhedrewtheswordfromthescabbard，andwaveditabouthishead，andshookittowardthesouth，andcriedout，“Now，welcomeworld，andbethoublessedfromoneendtotheother，fromtheoceanseatotheuttermostmountains！”
Awhileheheldthewhitesteelinhisfist，andthensheathedtheblade，androdedownsoberlyovertheturfbridgeacrosstheancientfosse，andsocameontothegreenroadmademanyagesbeforebyanancientpeople，andsotrottedsouthalongfairandsoftly。
