ThenhelookedatRalphandatUrsula，andsaid：“EithermyeyesareworsethanIdeemedyesterday，orthouartyoung，andagallantknight，andshethatisstandingbytheeisyoung，andfair。Ah，lad！timewaswhenI
　　wouldhavebidtheecomehome，thouandthysweetling，tomyhousewithme，andabidethereineaseandfeastfully；butnowthebestredeIcangivetheeistogettheegonefromtheland，forthereisallunpeaceinit。
　　Andyet，forsooth，friend，Iknownotwheretosendtheetoseekforpeace，sinceUpmeadshathfailedus。”
　　Whilehespoke，andRalphwassoremovedbythesoundofhisvoice，andhisspeechwhereinkindnessandmockingwassoblended，theDameofUpmeadscametoRalphandlaidherhandonhisarm，andsaidinapleasantvoice，forshewassoft-heartedandsoft-spokenboth：
　　“Willnotthefairyoungwarriorandhismatedosomuchforanoldmanandhiswife，whohaveheardnottidingsoftheirbestbelovedsonfortwoyearswellnigh，astocomewiththemtotheirchamber，andansweralittlequestionortwoastothepartsoftheworldtheyhaveseenoflate？”
　　Ralphnoddedyeasayandbegantomovetowardtheporch，theDameofUpmeadsstickingclosetohimallthetime，andKingPeterfollowingafterandsaying：“Yea，youngman，thoumaystthinktheworseofmeforhangingabouthereamongstthemonks，whene’ennow，forallIknow，thebattleispitchedinUpmeads；
　　butNicholasandallofthemwouldhaveitso——Yea，andallmysonsareaway，fairsir；thoughoftheeldest，whomeseemswasbornwithalonghead，wehearthatheisthriving，andhathgrowngreat。”
　　Ashespaketheywerecomeintotheporch，andpassedintotheopenair，whereitwasstilllight；thentheDameturnedroundonRalphandcaughthimbythetwoarmsandcriedoutandcastherarmsabouthisneck；
　　andwhenshecouldsunderherselfalittlefromhim，shesaid：
　　“0Ralph，IdeemedthatIknewthyvoice，butIdurstnothalsetheetillIknewitwasmineownfleshandblood，lestIshouldhavediedforgrieftothinkitwastheewhenitwasnot。Oson，howfairthouart！
　　NowdooffthysalletthatImayseethee，thyfaceandthycurlyhead。”
　　Sodidhe，smilingasonewholovedher，andagainshefelltokissingandclippinghim。Thenhisfathercameupandthrustherasidegentlyandembracedhimalso，andsaid：“Tellme，son，whatthouarebecome？
　　Thouartgrownmuchofamansincethoustolestthyselfawayfromme。
　　Isthereaughtbehindthisgoodlyraimentofthine？Andthisfairlady，hathshestolentheeawayfromthyfoestobringtheehometous？”
　　Ralphlaughedandsaid：“Nolessthanthat，father；Iwilltelltheeallpresently；butthisfirst，thatIamthecaptainofagoodlycompanyofmen-at-arms；and“——“Ah，son，sweetheart。”saidhismother，“andthouwiltbegoingawayfromusagaintoseekmorefame：
　　andyet，asIlookontheethouseemesttohavegrowngreatenoughalready。
　　Ideemthouwiltnotleaveus。”
　　“Mother，mydear。”saidRalph，“to-morrowmornweshallgodowntobattleinUpmeads，andthedayafterIshallcomehitheragain，andbringyoubacktotheHighHousewithallhonourandglory。
　　Butlook，mother。”andhetookUrsula’shand，“hereisadaughterandadarlingthatIhavebroughtbacktothee，forthisismyweddedwife。”
　　ThenUrsulalookedbeseechinglyattheDame，whotookherinherarmsandclippedherandkissedher；andsaid，“Welcome，daughter；
　　forIfeelthybodythatthoulovestme。”
　　ThensaidKingPeter；“Forsooth，son，sheisasweetanddaintycreature。
　　Iftherebeafairerthanher，Iwotnot；butnonesofairhavemineeyeslookedon。Tellmewhosedaughtersheis，andofwhatlineage？”
　　Andtherewithhetookherhandandkissedher。
　　ButUrsulasaid：“Iamcomeofnoearlorbaron。
　　Iamayeoman’sdaughter，andbothmyfatherandmymotheraredead，andIhavenonighkinsaveonebrotherwholovethmenot，andwouldheeditlittleifheneversawmyfaceagain。
　　NowItelltheethis：thatifmylordbiddethmegofromhim，Iwilldepart；butforthebiddingofnoneelsewillIleavehim。”
　　KingPeterlaughedandsaid：“NeverwillIbidtheedepart“Thenhetookherhandandsaid：“Sweetling，fairdaughter，whatisthyname？”
　　“Ursula。”shesaid。Saidhe：“Ursula，thypalmsareharderthanbethehandsofthedaintydamesofthecities，butthereisnochurls’
　　bloodintheemeseemeth。Whatisthykindredoftheyeoman？”Shesaid：
　　“WebecomeoftheGeiringsofoldtime：itmaybethatthespearisbroken，andthebannertorn；butweforgetnotourforefathers，thoughwelabourafield，andthebaronsandtheearlscalluschurls。
　　Itistoldamongstusthatthatwordisbutanotherwayofsayingearlandthatitmeanethaman。”
　　ThenspokeRalph：“Fatherandmotherboth，Imaywellthanktheeandblesstheethatyoureyeslookuponthishalfofmewithkindeyes。AndnowIshalltelltheethatforthiswoman，herheartisgreaterthanaking’soraleaderoffolk。
　　Andmeseemethherpalmshavehardenedwiththelabourofdeliveringmefrommanytroubles。”
　　ThentheDameofUpmeadsputherarmsaboutUrsula’sneckagain，andbadeherallwelcomeoncemore，withsweetwordsofdarlinganddear，andwell-beloveddaughter。
　　ButKingPetersaid：“Son，thouhastnottoldmewhatthouarebecome；
　　andtrueitisthatthouhastthelookofagreatone。”
　　SaidRalph：“FatherandKing，IhavebecometheLordoftheLittleLandofAbundance，theswornbrotheroftheChampionsoftheDryTree，theLordoftheCastleoftheScaur，thebrotherandWardukeoftheShepherds；andto-morrowshallIbetheConqueroroftherobbersandthedevilsoftheBurg。
　　Andthisbenotenoughforme，hearken！Iandmywifeboth，yeaandsheleadingme，havedrunkoftheWellattheWorld’sEnd，andhavebecomeFriendsthereof。”
　　Andhelookedathisfatherwithlooksoflove，andhisfatherdrewnightohimagain，andembracedhimoncemore，andstrokedhischeeksandkissedhimasifhehadbecomeachildagain：
　　“Oson。”saidhe，“whatsoeverthoudost，thatthoudostfullwell。
　　Andlo，onewhilewhenIlookontheethouartmydearandsweetchild，asthouwertyearsagone，andIlovetheedearlyandfinely；
　　andanotherwhilethouartagreatandmightyman，andIfearthee；
　　somuchgreaterthouseemestthanwepooruplandfolk。”
　　ThensmiledRalphforloveandhappiness，andhesaid：
　　“Father，Iamthychildinthehouseandattheboard，andthatisforthinehelping。AndIamthychampionandthefiercewarriorafield，andthatalsoisforthinehelping。
　　Beofgoodcheer；forthinehouseshallnotwane，butwax。”
　　Andallthosefourwerefullofjoyandtheirheartswereraisedaloft。
　　Butastheyspakethuscamealay-brotherandbentthekneebeforeKingPeterandbadehimandtheDameofUpmeadstosupperinthenameofthePrior，andtheCaptainandtheLadytherewith；forindeedtherumourofthecomingofanhostforthehelpingofthecountrysidehadgottenintothatHouse，andthePriorandthebrethernsorelydesiredtolookupontheCaptain，notknowinghimforRalphofUpmeads。
　　SointotheHalltheywenttogether，andtheretheholyfathersmadethemgreatfeastandjoy；andKingPetermightnotrefrainhim，buttoldthePriorhowthiswashissoncomebackfromfarlands，withthegoodlyLadyhehadwontowifetherein；andthePriorandallthefathersmademuchofRalph，andrejoicedintheirheartswhentheysawhowgoodlyamanofwarhehadgottentobe。
　　AndthePriorwouldleadhimontotellhimofthemarvelshehadseeninthefarpartsoftheworld；butRalphsaidbutlittlethereon，whereashisthoughtwassetonthedaysthatlayevenbeforehisfeet；
　　yetsomedealhetoldhimoftheuncouthmannersofthelandsbeyondWhitwall，andatlasthesaid：“Father，whenthebattlesbeoverhere，andthereispeaceonourlandsagain，Iwillasktheetogivemeguestingforanight，thatImaytelltheeallthetaleofwhathathbefallenmesincethelastsummerdaywhenIrodethroughWulstead；
　　butnowIaskleaveoftheetodepart，forIhavemanythingstodothiseven，asbehovethacaptain，beforeIsleepforanhourortwo。
　　Andifitbethywill，IwouldleavetheLadymywifewithmymotherhereatleasttillmorrowmorn。”
　　SothePriorgavehimleave，loththoughhewere，andRalphkissedhisfatherandmother，andtheyblessedhim。ButUrsulasaidtohimsoftly：
　　“ItismymeaningtogowiththeedownintoUpmeadsto-morrow；
　　forwhoknowethwhatmaybefallthee。”Thenhesmileduponherandwenthiswaysdownthehallandout-a-gates，whileallmenlookedonhimanddidhimworship。
　　RalphHoldsConverseWithKatherineHisGossipRalphwentstraightfromSt。Austin’stoClement’shouse，andfoundmuchpeopleaboutthedoorthereof，whatofthetownsmen，whatofthemenofhisownhost。
　　Hepassedthroughthese，andfoundClementinhischamber，andwithhimahalfscoreofsuchcompanyaswaswithout，andamongstthemRogerandtheSage；butStephenandRichardbothwereamongsttheirmendoingwhatwasneedful。
　　AllmenarosewhenRalphentered；buthelookedaround，andcouldseenoughtofhisgossipamongstthem。
　　ThenhesatdownbyClementandaskedifhehadanyfreshtidings；
　　andClementdidhimtowitthattherehadcomeinacarlefromoutofUpmeads，whohadtoldthembysuretokensthatthefoewerecomeintotheUpmeads-landatnoonthatday，andbetweenthenandsunsethadskirmishedwithNicholasandthemthatwereholdingtheHighHouse，buthadgottennoughtthereby。
　　Thisman，saidClement，beingbothboldandofgoodsleighthadmingledwiththefoe；andhadheardthetalkofthem，andhesaidthattheyhadnoinklingoftheShepherdsortheDryTreecomingagainstthem；buttheylookedtohaveaidfromtheirownfolkfromthelandsofHigham；whereforetheymadeamockofthedefenceoftheUpmeads’men；andsaidthatsince，whentheywerealljoinedtogetherinUpmeads，theymightenterwheretheywouldwithoutthelossofahalf-scoremen，thereforetheywouldrisknoughtnow；norwouldtheyburneithertheHighHouseortheothersteadings，since，saidthey，theyweremindedtokeepthemsoundandwholefortheirown。
　　ThesetidingsseemedgoodtoRalph；sohetookacupofwineandpledgedthecompany，andsaid：“Mymasters，suchofyouaslisttosleeplongto-nighthadbestbeabedpresently，forIwarnyouthatthetrumpetswillblowfordeparturebeforethesunrisethto-morrow；andhethatfailethtoseeto-morrow’sbattlewillbesorryforhislackallhislifelong。”
　　Whenhehadthusspokentheyallcriedhailtohim，andanonaroseandwenttheirways。ThenRalphbadeClementcomewithhimthathemightvisitthequartersofhismen-at-arms，andseethatalltheleadersknewofthemuster，andoftheorderofdepartingonthemorrow；
　　andClementaroseandwentwithhim。
　　AstheywereonthewayRalphaskedClementwhatailedhisgossipKatherinethatshehadnotcometomeethimalready；
　　andClementlaughedandsaid：“Nought，nought；sheissomewhatshamefacedtomeettheefirstamongstamanyfolk，andshenotablebeliketorefrainherkissesandcaressestothee。
　　Fearnot，sheisinherbower-aloft，andweshallfindhertherewhenwecomebackfromourerrand；fearnot！shewillnotsleeptillshehathhadherarmsaboutthee。”
　　“Goodisthat。”saidRalph；“Ihadlookedtoseehererenow；
　　butwhenwemeetapartfromfolk，somethingweshallbeabletosaytoeachother，whichbelikeneithershenorIhadlikedtoleaveunsaidtillwemeetagain。”
　　Socametheytothechiefquartersofthefightingmen，andRalphhadalltheleaderscalledtohim，andhespaketothemofhowtheyshoulddoonthemorrow，bothfootmenandhorsemen，whatwisetheyshouldstandtogether，andhowtheyshouldfallon；
　　andhetoldthemallasclearlyasifhewerealreadyinthefieldwiththefoebeforehim；sothattheywonderedathim，soyounginyears，beingsooldinthewisdomofwar。
　　Withaltheysawofhimthathehadnodoubtbutthattheyshouldcometotheiraboveonthemorrow；andallmen，notonlyofthetriedmen-at-armsoftheDryTree，buttheyoftheShepherdsalso，eventhoseofthemwhohadneverstrickenastrokeinanger，wereofhighheartandfearednotwhatshouldbefall。
　　Sowhenallthisbusinesswasover，theyturnedaboutandcametheirwayshometoClement’shouseagain。