and said: I should be glad, and would be if I might; but somehow meseemeth that thou growest older quicker than I do, and that it is ill for me, for it will sunder us more than even now we be sundered.
And again he had to comfort her with sweet words; and he shot across to her an ouch which Stephen had given him that morning, so soon she was herself again, and sat and told him a tale of old times; and they parted happily, and Osberne gat him home to Wethermel. But he had scarce been at home a minute or two when there came one riding to the door, a young man scarlet-clad and gay, and his horse was dight with the goodliest of saddles and bridles, and the bit of silver; but for all that, both Osberne and Stephen, who was standing in the door, knew the horse for their own nag, on whom Waywearer had ridden off the yestermorn. Now the lad cries out: Is this the stead of Wethermel? Yea, said Osberne; what wouldst thou? I would see the goodman, says the swain. He is yet afield, said Osberne, but if thou wilt come in and have the bite and the sup thou mayst abide him, for he will not be long. I may not, said the swain, for time fails me; so I will say to thee what I was to say to him, which is no long spell, to wit that Waywearer sendeth back home the horse the goodman lent him, and bids him keep the gear on him in his memory. Therewith is he off the horse in a twinkling and out through the garth gate, and away so swiftly that they lost sight of him in a moment. Stephen
