Christopher reddened, and he half rose up, and said: "What is this,foster-father? Is it that there shall be battle at the Tofts, and that thouwouldst have me away thence? Am I then such a weakling?"
Said Jack, laughing: "Be still now, thou sticked one. The Tofts godown to battle at some whiles; but seldom comet battle to the Tofts; andno battle do I look for now. But do my bidding, sweet fosterling, and itwill be better for me and better for thee, and may, perchance, put off battlefor awhile; which to me as now were not unhandy. If thou wilt but abideat Littledale for somewhile, there shall be going and coming betwixt us,and thou shalt drink thy Yule at the Tofts, and go back afterwards, and evershalt thou have thy sweet fellows with thee; so be wise, since thou goestnot perforce."
"Yea, yea," said Christopher, laughing; "thou puttest force on no man,is it not so, foster-father? Wherefore I will go, and uncompelled."
Therewith came up to them, from out of the wild-wood, David, andwith him Joanna, who was the wife of Gilbert, and one of those fairmaidens from the Wailful Castle, though not the fairest of them; they hadbeen a-hunting, for ever those three would willingly go together, Gilbert,David, and Joanna; and now Gilbert had abided behind, to dight the quarryfor fetching home. Christopher looked on the two joyfully, as a mangetting whole after sickness smiles on goodly things; and Joanna was fairto see in her hunter's attire, with brogues tied to her naked feet, and theshapeliness of her legs bare to the knee beneath the trussing up of hergreen skirts.
They greeted Christopher kindly, and Joanna sat down by him to talk,but Jack of the Tofts took his son by the arm, and went toward the housewith him in earnest speech.