ThenhelookedatRalphandatUrsula，andsaid：“EithermyeyesareworsethanIdeemedyesterday，orthouartyoung，andagallantknight，andshethatisstandingbytheeisyoung，andfair。Ah，lad！timewaswhenI
wouldhavebidtheecomehome，thouandthysweetling，tomyhousewithme，andabidethereineaseandfeastfully；butnowthebestredeIcangivetheeistogettheegonefromtheland，forthereisallunpeaceinit。
Andyet，forsooth，friend，Iknownotwheretosendtheetoseekforpeace，sinceUpmeadshathfailedus。”
Whilehespoke，andRalphwassoremovedbythesoundofhisvoice，andhisspeechwhereinkindnessandmockingwassoblended，theDameofUpmeadscametoRalphandlaidherhandonhisarm，andsaidinapleasantvoice，forshewassoft-heartedandsoft-spokenboth：
“Willnotthefairyoungwarriorandhismatedosomuchforanoldmanandhiswife，whohaveheardnottidingsoftheirbestbelovedsonfortwoyearswellnigh，astocomewiththemtotheirchamber，andansweralittlequestionortwoastothepartsoftheworldtheyhaveseenoflate？”
Ralphnoddedyeasayandbegantomovetowardtheporch，theDameofUpmeadsstickingclosetohimallthetime，andKingPeterfollowingafterandsaying：“Yea，youngman，thoumaystthinktheworseofmeforhangingabouthereamongstthemonks，whene’ennow，forallIknow，thebattleispitchedinUpmeads；
butNicholasandallofthemwouldhaveitso——Yea，andallmysonsareaway，fairsir；thoughoftheeldest，whomeseemswasbornwithalonghead，wehearthatheisthriving，andhathgrowngreat。”
Ashespaketheywerecomeintotheporch，andpassedintotheopenair，whereitwasstilllight；thentheDameturnedroundonRalphandcaughthimbythetwoarmsandcriedoutandcastherarmsabouthisneck；
andwhenshecouldsunderherselfalittlefromhim，shesaid：
“0Ralph，IdeemedthatIknewthyvoice，butIdurstnothalsetheetillIknewitwasmineownfleshandblood，lestIshouldhavediedforgrieftothinkitwastheewhenitwasnot。Oson，howfairthouart！
NowdooffthysalletthatImayseethee，thyfaceandthycurlyhead。”
Sodidhe，smilingasonewholovedher，andagainshefelltokissingandclippinghim。Thenhisfathercameupandthrustherasidegentlyandembracedhimalso，andsaid：“Tellme，son，whatthouarebecome？
Thouartgrownmuchofamansincethoustolestthyselfawayfromme。
Isthereaughtbehindthisgoodlyraimentofthine？Andthisfairlady，hathshestolentheeawayfromthyfoestobringtheehometous？”
Ralphlaughedandsaid：“Nolessthanthat，father；Iwilltelltheeallpresently；butthisfirst，thatIamthecaptainofagoodlycompanyofmen-at-arms；and“——“Ah，son，sweetheart。”saidhismother，“andthouwiltbegoingawayfromusagaintoseekmorefame：
andyet，asIlookontheethouseemesttohavegrowngreatenoughalready。
Ideemthouwiltnotleaveus。”
“Mother，mydear。”saidRalph，“to-morrowmornweshallgodowntobattleinUpmeads，andthedayafterIshallcomehitheragain，andbringyoubacktotheHighHousewithallhonourandglory。
Butlook，mother。”andhetookUrsula’shand，“hereisadaughterandadarlingthatIhavebroughtbacktothee，forthisismyweddedwife。”
ThenUrsulalookedbeseechinglyattheDame，whotookherinherarmsandclippedherandkissedher；andsaid，“Welcome，daughter；
forIfeelthybodythatthoulovestme。”
ThensaidKingPeter；“Forsooth，son，sheisasweetanddaintycreature。
Iftherebeafairerthanher，Iwotnot；butnonesofairhavemineeyeslookedon。Tellmewhosedaughtersheis，andofwhatlineage？”
Andtherewithhetookherhandandkissedher。
ButUrsulasaid：“Iamcomeofnoearlorbaron。
Iamayeoman’sdaughter，andbothmyfatherandmymotheraredead，andIhavenonighkinsaveonebrotherwholovethmenot，andwouldheeditlittleifheneversawmyfaceagain。
NowItelltheethis：thatifmylordbiddethmegofromhim，Iwilldepart；butforthebiddingofnoneelsewillIleavehim。”
KingPeterlaughedandsaid：“NeverwillIbidtheedepart“Thenhetookherhandandsaid：“Sweetling，fairdaughter，whatisthyname？”
“Ursula。”shesaid。Saidhe：“Ursula，thypalmsareharderthanbethehandsofthedaintydamesofthecities，butthereisnochurls’
bloodintheemeseemeth。Whatisthykindredoftheyeoman？”Shesaid：
“WebecomeoftheGeiringsofoldtime：itmaybethatthespearisbroken，andthebannertorn；butweforgetnotourforefathers，thoughwelabourafield，andthebaronsandtheearlscalluschurls。
Itistoldamongstusthatthatwordisbutanotherwayofsayingearlandthatitmeanethaman。”
ThenspokeRalph：“Fatherandmotherboth，Imaywellthanktheeandblesstheethatyoureyeslookuponthishalfofmewithkindeyes。AndnowIshalltelltheethatforthiswoman，herheartisgreaterthanaking’soraleaderoffolk。
Andmeseemethherpalmshavehardenedwiththelabourofdeliveringmefrommanytroubles。”
ThentheDameofUpmeadsputherarmsaboutUrsula’sneckagain，andbadeherallwelcomeoncemore，withsweetwordsofdarlinganddear，andwell-beloveddaughter。
ButKingPetersaid：“Son，thouhastnottoldmewhatthouarebecome；
andtrueitisthatthouhastthelookofagreatone。”
SaidRalph：“FatherandKing，IhavebecometheLordoftheLittleLandofAbundance，theswornbrotheroftheChampionsoftheDryTree，theLordoftheCastleoftheScaur，thebrotherandWardukeoftheShepherds；andto-morrowshallIbetheConqueroroftherobbersandthedevilsoftheBurg。
Andthisbenotenoughforme，hearken！Iandmywifeboth，yeaandsheleadingme，havedrunkoftheWellattheWorld’sEnd，andhavebecomeFriendsthereof。”
Andhelookedathisfatherwithlooksoflove，andhisfatherdrewnightohimagain，andembracedhimoncemore，andstrokedhischeeksandkissedhimasifhehadbecomeachildagain：
“Oson。”saidhe，“whatsoeverthoudost，thatthoudostfullwell。
Andlo，onewhilewhenIlookontheethouartmydearandsweetchild，asthouwertyearsagone，andIlovetheedearlyandfinely；
andanotherwhilethouartagreatandmightyman，andIfearthee；
somuchgreaterthouseemestthanwepooruplandfolk。”
ThensmiledRalphforloveandhappiness，andhesaid：
“Father，Iamthychildinthehouseandattheboard，andthatisforthinehelping。AndIamthychampionandthefiercewarriorafield，andthatalsoisforthinehelping。
Beofgoodcheer；forthinehouseshallnotwane，butwax。”
Andallthosefourwerefullofjoyandtheirheartswereraisedaloft。
Butastheyspakethuscamealay-brotherandbentthekneebeforeKingPeterandbadehimandtheDameofUpmeadstosupperinthenameofthePrior，andtheCaptainandtheLadytherewith；forindeedtherumourofthecomingofanhostforthehelpingofthecountrysidehadgottenintothatHouse，andthePriorandthebrethernsorelydesiredtolookupontheCaptain，notknowinghimforRalphofUpmeads。
SointotheHalltheywenttogether，andtheretheholyfathersmadethemgreatfeastandjoy；andKingPetermightnotrefrainhim，buttoldthePriorhowthiswashissoncomebackfromfarlands，withthegoodlyLadyhehadwontowifetherein；andthePriorandallthefathersmademuchofRalph，andrejoicedintheirheartswhentheysawhowgoodlyamanofwarhehadgottentobe。
AndthePriorwouldleadhimontotellhimofthemarvelshehadseeninthefarpartsoftheworld；butRalphsaidbutlittlethereon，whereashisthoughtwassetonthedaysthatlayevenbeforehisfeet；
yetsomedealhetoldhimoftheuncouthmannersofthelandsbeyondWhitwall，andatlasthesaid：“Father，whenthebattlesbeoverhere，andthereispeaceonourlandsagain，Iwillasktheetogivemeguestingforanight，thatImaytelltheeallthetaleofwhathathbefallenmesincethelastsummerdaywhenIrodethroughWulstead；
butnowIaskleaveoftheetodepart，forIhavemanythingstodothiseven，asbehovethacaptain，beforeIsleepforanhourortwo。
Andifitbethywill，IwouldleavetheLadymywifewithmymotherhereatleasttillmorrowmorn。”
SothePriorgavehimleave，loththoughhewere，andRalphkissedhisfatherandmother，andtheyblessedhim。ButUrsulasaidtohimsoftly：
“ItismymeaningtogowiththeedownintoUpmeadsto-morrow；
forwhoknowethwhatmaybefallthee。”Thenhesmileduponherandwenthiswaysdownthehallandout-a-gates，whileallmenlookedonhimanddidhimworship。
RalphHoldsConverseWithKatherineHisGossipRalphwentstraightfromSt。Austin’stoClement’shouse，andfoundmuchpeopleaboutthedoorthereof，whatofthetownsmen，whatofthemenofhisownhost。
Hepassedthroughthese，andfoundClementinhischamber，andwithhimahalfscoreofsuchcompanyaswaswithout，andamongstthemRogerandtheSage；butStephenandRichardbothwereamongsttheirmendoingwhatwasneedful。
AllmenarosewhenRalphentered；buthelookedaround，andcouldseenoughtofhisgossipamongstthem。
ThenhesatdownbyClementandaskedifhehadanyfreshtidings；
andClementdidhimtowitthattherehadcomeinacarlefromoutofUpmeads，whohadtoldthembysuretokensthatthefoewerecomeintotheUpmeads-landatnoonthatday，andbetweenthenandsunsethadskirmishedwithNicholasandthemthatwereholdingtheHighHouse，buthadgottennoughtthereby。
Thisman，saidClement，beingbothboldandofgoodsleighthadmingledwiththefoe；andhadheardthetalkofthem，andhesaidthattheyhadnoinklingoftheShepherdsortheDryTreecomingagainstthem；buttheylookedtohaveaidfromtheirownfolkfromthelandsofHigham；whereforetheymadeamockofthedefenceoftheUpmeads’men；andsaidthatsince，whentheywerealljoinedtogetherinUpmeads，theymightenterwheretheywouldwithoutthelossofahalf-scoremen，thereforetheywouldrisknoughtnow；norwouldtheyburneithertheHighHouseortheothersteadings，since，saidthey，theyweremindedtokeepthemsoundandwholefortheirown。
ThesetidingsseemedgoodtoRalph；sohetookacupofwineandpledgedthecompany，andsaid：“Mymasters，suchofyouaslisttosleeplongto-nighthadbestbeabedpresently，forIwarnyouthatthetrumpetswillblowfordeparturebeforethesunrisethto-morrow；andhethatfailethtoseeto-morrow’sbattlewillbesorryforhislackallhislifelong。”
Whenhehadthusspokentheyallcriedhailtohim，andanonaroseandwenttheirways。ThenRalphbadeClementcomewithhimthathemightvisitthequartersofhismen-at-arms，andseethatalltheleadersknewofthemuster，andoftheorderofdepartingonthemorrow；
andClementaroseandwentwithhim。
AstheywereonthewayRalphaskedClementwhatailedhisgossipKatherinethatshehadnotcometomeethimalready；
andClementlaughedandsaid：“Nought，nought；sheissomewhatshamefacedtomeettheefirstamongstamanyfolk，andshenotablebeliketorefrainherkissesandcaressestothee。
Fearnot，sheisinherbower-aloft，andweshallfindhertherewhenwecomebackfromourerrand；fearnot！shewillnotsleeptillshehathhadherarmsaboutthee。”
“Goodisthat。”saidRalph；“Ihadlookedtoseehererenow；
butwhenwemeetapartfromfolk，somethingweshallbeabletosaytoeachother，whichbelikeneithershenorIhadlikedtoleaveunsaidtillwemeetagain。”
Socametheytothechiefquartersofthefightingmen，andRalphhadalltheleaderscalledtohim，andhespaketothemofhowtheyshoulddoonthemorrow，bothfootmenandhorsemen，whatwisetheyshouldstandtogether，andhowtheyshouldfallon；
andhetoldthemallasclearlyasifhewerealreadyinthefieldwiththefoebeforehim；sothattheywonderedathim，soyounginyears，beingsooldinthewisdomofwar。
Withaltheysawofhimthathehadnodoubtbutthattheyshouldcometotheiraboveonthemorrow；andallmen，notonlyofthetriedmen-at-armsoftheDryTree，buttheyoftheShepherdsalso，eventhoseofthemwhohadneverstrickenastrokeinanger，wereofhighheartandfearednotwhatshouldbefall。
Sowhenallthisbusinesswasover，theyturnedaboutandcametheirwayshometoClement’shouseagain。
