“I sat in the Dale that next day and was happy, though I longed to see that fair man again:  sooth to say, since my mistress was dead, everything seemed fairer to me, yea even mine own face, as I saw it in the pools of the stream, though whiles I wondered when I should have another mistress, and how she would deal with me; and ever I said I would ask the carline when she came again to me.  But all that day she came not:  nor did I marvel thereat.  But when seven days passed and still she came not, I fell to wondering what I should do:  for my bread was all gone, and I durst not go back to the house to fetch meal; though there was store of it there.  Howbeit, I drank of the milk of the goats, and made curds thereof with the woodland roots, and ate of the wood-berries like as thou hast done, friend, e’en now.  And it was easier for me to find a livelihood in the woods than it had been for most folk, so well as I knew them.  So wore the days, and she came not, and I began to think that I should see the wise carline no more, as indeed fell out at that time; and the days began to hang heavy on my hands, and I fell to thinking of that way to the west and the peopled parts, whereof the carline had told me; and whiles I went out of the Dale and went away hither and thither through the woods, and so far, that thrice I slept away out of the Dale:  but I knew that the peopled parts would be strange to me and I feared to face them all alone.

“Thus wore the days till July was on the wane, and on a morning early I awoke with unwonted sounds in mine ears; and when my eyes were fairly open I saw a man standing over me and a white horse cropping the grass hard by.  And my heart was full and fain, and I sprang to my feet and showed him a smiling happy face, for I saw at once that it was that fair man come back again.  But lo! his face was pale and worn, though he looked kindly on me, and he said:  ’O my beloved, I have found thee, but I am faint with hunger and can speak but little.’  And even therewith he sank down on the grass.  But I bestirred myself, and gave him milk of my goats, and curds and berries, and the life came into him again, and I sat down by him and laid his head in my lap, and he slept a long while; and when he awoke (and it was towards sunset) he kissed my hands and my arms, and said to me:  ’Fair child, perhaps thou wilt come with me now; and even if thou art a thrall thou mayest flee with me; for my horse is strong and fat, though I am weak, for he can make his dinner on the grass.’

“Then he laughed and I no less; but I fed him with my poor victual again, and as he ate I said:  ’I am no mistress’s thrall now; for the evening of the day whereon I saw thee I slew her, else had she slain me.’  ‘The saints be praised,’ said he:  ‘Thou wilt come with me, then?’ ‘O yea,’ said I. Then I felt shamefaced and I reddened; but I said:  ’I have abided here many days for a wise woman who hath taught me many things; but withal I hoped that thou wouldst come also.’