She looked at him, blushing as a rose, and said: "Dear friend, I willtell thee; I knew that thou wouldst make our parting piteous-sweet thismorning; and of that I would not be balked. See, then, how rich I am,since I have both parted from thee and have thee." And therewith shelouted down from her saddle, and they kissed together sweetly, and sothereafter wore the way.
So came they to the plain of Hazeldale, which was a wide valley with a middling river winding about it, the wild-wood at its back toward theTofts, and in front down-land nought wooded, save here and there a treenigh a homestead or cot; for that way the land was builded for a space.Forsooth it was not easy for the folk thereabout to live quietly, but if theywere friends in some wise to Jack of the Tofts.
So when the company of the Tofts came out into the dale about threehours after noon, it was no wonder to them to see men riding and going toand fro, and folk pitching tents and raising booths nigh to the cover of thewood; and when the coming of the Toft-folk was seen, and the winding oftheir horns heard, there was many a glad cry raised in answer, and manyan horn blown, and all men there came running together toward wherenow was stayed Jack of the Tofts and Christopher and their men.
Then Goldilind bade Christopher help her light down; so he took herin his arms, and was not over hasty in setting her down again. But whenshe stood by him, she looked over the sunny field darkened by the folkhastening over the greensward, and her eyes glittered and her cheekflushed, and she said: "Lord King, be these some others of thy men?"