But at last Ralph turned to him suddenly and said:  “Tell me, way-leader, in what wise did they seem to be using that woman?” The minstrel chuckled:  “Fair lord,” said he, “if I had a mind for mocking I might say of thee that thou blowest both hot and cold, since it was but half an hour ago that thou badest me speak naught of her:  but I deem that I know thy mind herein:  so I will tell thee that they seemed to be using her courteously; as is no marvel; for who would wish to mar so fair an image?  O, it will be well with her:  I noted that the Lord seemed to think it good to ride beside her, and eye her all over.  Yea, she shall have a merry life of it if she but do somewhat after the Lord’s will.”

Ralph looked askance at him fiercely, but the other heeded it naught:  then said Ralph, “And how if she do not his will?” Said Morfinn, grinning:  “Then hath my Lord a many servants to do his will.”  Ralph held his peace for a long while; at last he turned a cleared brow to Morfinn and said; “Dost thou tell of the Lord of Utterbol that he is a good lord and merciful to his folk and servants?”

“Fair sir,” said the minstrel; “thou hast bidden me not speak of one woman, now will I pray thee not to speak of one man, and that is my Lord of Utterbol.”

Ralph’s heart fell at this word, and he asked no question as to wherefore.

So now they rode on both, rather more than soberly for a while:  but the day was fair; the sun shone, the wind blew, and the sweet scents floated about them, and Ralph’s heart cast off its burden somewhat and he fell to speech again; and the minstrel answered him gaily by seeming, noting many things as they rode along, as one that took delight in the fashion of the earth.

It was a fresh and bright morning of early autumn, the sheaves were on the acres, and the grapes were blackening to the vintage, and the beasts and birds at least were merry.  But little merry were the husbandmen whom they met, either carles or queans, and they were scantily and foully clad, and sullen-faced, if not hunger-pinched.

If they came across any somewhat joyous, it was here and there certain gangrel folk resting on the wayside grass, or coming out of woods and other passes by twos and threes, whiles with a child or two with them.  These were of aspect like to the gipsies of our time and nation, and were armed all of them, and mostly well clad after their fashion.  Sometimes when there were as many as four or five carles of them together, they would draw up amidst of the highway, but presently would turn aside at the sight either of Ralph’s war-gear or of the minstrel’s raiment.  Forsooth, some of them seemed to know him, and nodded friendly to him as they passed by, but he gave them back no good day.

They had now ridden out of the lands of Goldburg, which were narrow on that side, and the day was wearing fast.  This way the land was fair and rich, with no hills of any size.  They crossed a big river twice by bridges, and small streams often, mostly by fords.