Therewith she went to an ark that stood in the corner, and groped in the till thereof and brought out a little necklace of blue and green stones with gold knobs betwixt, like a pair of beads; albeit neither pope nor priest had blessed them; and tied to the necklace was a little box of gold with something hidden therein.  This gaud she gave to Ralph, and said to him:  “Gossip, wear this about thy neck, and let no man take it from thee, and I think it will be salvation to thee in peril, and good luck to thee in the time of questing; so that it shall be to thee as if thou hadst drunk of the well at the world’s end.”

“What is that water?” said Ralph, “and how may I find it?”

“I know not rightly,” she said, “but if a body might come by it, I hear say it saveth from weariness and wounding and sickness; and it winneth love from all, and maybe life everlasting.  Hast thou not heard tell of it, my husband?”

“Yea,” said the chapman, “many times; and how that whoso hath drunk thereof hath the tongue that none may withstand, whether in buying or selling, or prevailing over the hearts of men in any wise.  But as for its wherabouts, ye shall not find it in these parts.  Men say that it is beyond the Dry Tree; and that is afar, God wot!  But now, lord Ralph, I rede thee go back again this evening with Andrew, my nephew, for company:  forsooth, he will do little less gainful than riding with thee to Upmeads than if he abide in Wulstead; for he is idle.  But, my lord, take it not amiss that I spake about the mayor and the tipstaves; for it was but a jest, as thou mayest well wot.”

Ralph’s face cleared at that word, and he stood smiling, weighing the chaplet in his hand; but Dame Katherine said: 

“Dear gossip, do it on speedily; for it is a gift from me unto thee:  and from a gossip even king’s sons may take a gift.”

Quoth Ralph:  “But is it lawful to wear it? is there no wizardry within it?”

“Hearken to him!” she said, “and how like unto a man he speaketh; if there were a brawl in the street, he would strike in and ask no word thereof, not even which were the better side:  whereas here is my falcon-chick frighted at a little gold box and a pair of Saracen beads.”

“Well,” quoth Ralph, “the first holy man I meet shall bless them for me.”

“That shall he not,” said the dame, “that shall he not.  Who wotteth what shall betide to thee or me if he do so?  Come, do them on, and then to table!  For seest thou not that the goodman is wearying for meat? and even thine eyes will shine the brighter for a mouthful, king’s son and gossip.”

She took him by the hand and did the beads on his neck and kissed and fondled him before he sat down, while the goodman looked on, grinning rather sheepishly, but said nought to them; and only called on his boy to lead the destrier to stable.  So when they were set down, the chapman took up the word where it had been dropped, and said:  “So, Lord Ralph, thou must needs take to adventures, being, as thou deemest, full grown.  That is all one as the duck taketh to water despite of the hen that hath hatched her.  Well, it was not to be thought that Upmeads would hold you lords much longer.  Or what is gone with my lords your brethren?”