there be but twenty-four hours in the day, and what between eating
and drinking and talking to fair maidens, I have enough to do in
every one of them. Wasteful are ye women, and simple is your
forfeit. Now will I, who am the Alderman's son, give forth a doom,
and will ordain that one of you fetch up the gowns yourselves, and
that Long-coat be the one; for she is the fleetest-footed and ablest
thereto. Will ye take my doom? for later on I shall not be wiser.'

'Yea,' said the fair woman, 'not because thou art the Alderman's son,
but because thou art the fairest man of the Dale, and mayst bid us
poor souls what thou wilt.'

Face-of-god reddened at her words, and the speaker and the last-comer
laughed; but Long-coat held her peace: she cast one very sober look
on him, and then ran lightly down the bent; he drew near the edge of
it, and watched her going; for her light-foot slimness was fair to
look on: and he noted that when she was nigh the thorn-bush whereon
hung the bright-broidered gowns, and deemed belike that she was not
seen, she kissed both her hands where he had kissed them erst.

Thereat he drew aback and turned away shyly, scarce looking at the
other twain, who smiled on him with somewhat jeering looks; but he
bade them farewell and departed speedily; and if they spoke, it was
but softly, for he heard their voices no more.

He went on under the sunlight which was now gilding the outstanding
stones of the cliffs, and still his mind was set upon the Bride; and
his meeting with the mother of the yet unborn baby, and with the
three women with their freshness and fairness, did somehow turn his
thought the more upon her, since she was the woman who was to be his