They stood still a moment when they were all fairly within doors, and Roger thrust up to Ralph and said, but softly:  “The woman is blenching, and all for naught; were it not for the oath, we had best have left her in the thorp:  I fear me she will bring evil days on our old home with her shivering fear.  How far otherwise came our Lady in hither when first she came amongst us, when the Duke of us found her in the wood after she had been thrust out from Sunway by the Baron whom thou slewest afterward.  Our Duke brought her in hither wrapped up in his knight’s scarlet cloak, and went up with her on to the dais; but when she came thither, she turned about and let her cloak fall to earth, and stood there barefoot in her smock, as she had been cast out into the wildwood, and she spread abroad her hands, and cried out in a loud voice as sweet as the May blackbird, ’May God bless this House and the abode of the valiant, and the shelter of the hapless.’”

Said Ursula (and her voice was firm and the colour come back to her cheeks now, while Ralph stood agaze and wondering):  “Roger, thou lovest me little, meseemeth, though if I did less than I do, I should do against the will of thy Lady that was Queen in this hall.  But tell me, Roger, where is gone that other one, the fearful she-bear of this crag, who sat in yonder stone high-seat, and roared at me and mocked me, and gave me over into the hands of her tormentors, who haled me away to the prison wherefrom thy very Lady delivered me?”

“Lady,” said Roger, “the tale of her is short since the day thou sawest her herein.  On the day when we first had the evil tidings of the slaying of my Lady we were sad at heart, and called to mind ancient transgressions against us; therefore we fell on the she-bear, as thou callest her, and her company of men and women, and some we slew and some we thrust forth; but as to her, I slew her not three feet from where thou standest now.  A rumour there is that she walketh, and it may be so; yet in the summer noon ye need not look to see her.”

Ralph said coldly:  “Roger, let us be done with minstrels’ tales; lead me to the place where the oath is to be sworn, for time presses.”

Scarce were the words out of his mouth ere Roger strode forward and gat him on to the dais and went hastily to the wall behind the high-seat, whence he took down a very great horn, and set it to his lips and winded it loudly thrice, so that the great and high hall was full of its echoes.  Richard started thereat and half drew his sword; but the Sage put his hand upon the hilts, and said:  “It is naught, let the edges lie quiet.”  Ursula stared astonished, but now she quaked no more; Ralph changed not countenance a wit, and the champions of the Tree made as if naught had been done that they looked not for.  But thereafter cried Roger from the dais:  “This is the token that the men of the Dry Tree are met for matters of import; thus is the Mote hallowed.  Come up hither, ye aliens, and ye also of the fellowship, that the oath may be sworn, and we may go our ways, even as the alien captain biddeth.”