Man looked on man here and there, and smiled a little as he spake, butnone said aught, for there were none save the Earl's servants there, and asort of poor wretches.
So therewithal they went their ways to the chapel where was thewedding done as grandly as might be, considering they were in no granderplace than Greenharbour. And when all was done, and folk began to flowaway from the chapel, and Goldilind sat shamefaced but strangely happyin a great stall of the choir, the Earl called Christopher unto him, and said:"My lad, I deem that some great fortune shall betide thee since alreadythou hast begun so luckily. But I beseech thee mar not thy fortune bycoming back with thy fair wife to the land of Meadham; or else it may bethou shalt cast thy life away, and that will bring her sorrow, as I can seewell."
He spake this grimly, though he smiled as he spake. But he went onmore gently: "I will not send you twain away empty-handed; when ye goout a-gates into the wide world, ye shall find two fair horses for yourriding, well bedight, and one with a woman's saddle; and, moreover, asumpter beast, not very lightly burdened, for on one side of him he bearethachest wherein is, first of all, the raiment of my Lady, and beneath it some deal of silver and gold and gems; but on the other side is victual and drinkfor the way for you, and raiment for thee, youngling. How sayest thou, isit well?"
"It is well, Lord," said Christopher; "yet would I have with me theraiment wherewith I came hither, and my bow and my sax."
"Yea and wherefore, carle?" said Earl Geoffrey.
Said the youngling: "We be going to ride the wild-wood, and itmight be better for safety's sake that I be so clad as certain folk look to seemen ride there."
But he reddened as he spake; and the Earl said: "By Allhallows! butit is not ill thought of; and, belike, the same-like kind of attire might bebetter to hide the queenship of the Lady from the wood-folk than thatwhich now she weareth?"
"True is that, Lord," quoth Christopher.
"Yet," said the Earl, "l will have you go forth from the Castle clad inyour lordly weed, lest folk of mine say that I have stripped my Lady andcast her forth: don ye your poor raiment when in the wood ye be."
Therewith he called to a squire, and bade him seek out that poorraiment of the new-wedded youngling, and bow withal and shafts goodstore, and do all on the sumpter; and, furthermore, he bade him tell one ofmy Lady's women to set on the sumpter some of Goldilind's old and usedraiment. So the squire did the Earl's will, and both got Christopher's gearand also found Aloyse and gave her the Earl's word.