Now Jack of the Tofts said a word to one of his men, and he rodestraightway up into the field under the wood, and spake to three of thecaptains of the folk, and they ranked a hundred of the men, of those whowere best dight, and upraised amongst them the banner of Oakenrealm,and led all them down to the river bank; and with these must needs goGoldilind; and when they came down thither, Christopher and Jack werethere on the bank to hail them, and they raised a great shout when theysaw their King and their Earl standing there, and the shout was given backfrom the wood-side; and then the men of Brimside took it up, for they hadheard the bidding of their Lord, and he was now in a pavilion which theyhad raised for him on the mead, and the leeches were looking to his hurts;and they feared him, but rather loved than hated him, and he was more tothem than the King in Oakenrealm and they were all ready to do his will.
But as to Goldilind, her mind it had been, as she was going down themeadow, that she would throw herself upon Christopher's bosom and lovehim with glad tears of love; but as she came and stood over against him,she was abashed, and stood still looking on him, and spake no word; andhe also was ashamed before all that folk to say the words whereof his heartwas full, and longed for the night, that they might be alone together.