Therewith the carle led him into the house; and if it were goodly without, within it was better.  For there was a fair chamber panelled with wainscot well carven, and a cupboard of no sorry vessels of silver and latten:  the chairs and stools as fair as might be; no king’s might be better:  the windows were glazed, and there were flowers and knots and posies in them; and the bed was hung with goodly web from over sea such as the soldan useth.  Also, whereas the chapman’s ware-bowers were hard by the chamber, there was a pleasant mingled smell therefrom floating about.  The table was set with meat and drink and vessel of pewter and earth, all fair and good; and thereby stood the chapman’s wife, a very goodly woman of two-score years, who had held Ralph at the font when she was a slim damsel new wedded; for she was come of no mean kindred of the Kingdom of Upmeads:  her name was Dame Katherine.

Now she kissed Ralph’s cheek friendly, and said:  “Welcome, gossip! thou art here in good time to break thy fast; and we will give thee a trim dinner thereafter, when thou hast been here and there in the town and done thine errand; and then shalt thou drink a cup and sing me a song, and so home again in the cool of the evening.”

Ralph seemed a little troubled at her word, and he said:  “Nay, gossip, though I thank thee for all these good things as though I had them, yet must I ride away south straightway after I have breakfasted, and said one word to the goodman.  Goodman, how call ye the next town southward, and how far is it thither?”

Quoth Clement:  “My son, what hast thou to do with riding south?  As thou wottest, going hence south ye must presently ride the hill-country; and that is no safe journey for a lonely man, even if he be a doughty knight like to thee, lord.”

Said Ralph, reddening withal:  “I have an errand that way.”

“An errand of King Peter’s or thine own?” said Clement.

“Of King Peter’s, if ye must wot,” said Ralph.

Clement were no chapman had he not seen that the lad was lying; so he said: 

“Fair lord, saving your worship, how would it be as to the speeding of King Peter’s errand, if I brought thee before our mayor, and swore the peace against thee; so that I might keep thee in courteous prison till I had sent to thy father of thy whereabouts?”

The young man turned red with anger; but ere he could speak Dame Katherine said sharply:  “Hold thy peace, Clement!  What hast thou to meddle or make in the matter?  If our young lord hath will to ride out and see the world, why should we let him?  Yea, why should his father let him, if it come to that?  Take my word for it that my gossip shall go through the world and come back to those that love him, as goodly as he went forth.  And hold! here is for a token thereof.”