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looked up and down and round about； and said at last： 〃Where be the
horses and the men？〃
But his fellow with the red beard said： 〃Raven…son； in this land
when they journey； what do they as to riding or going afoot？〃
Said Hallblithe： 〃Fair fellows； ye shall wot that in this land folk
go afoot for the most part； both men and women； whereas they weary
but little； and are in no haste。〃
Then the once…captain clapped the once…king on the shoulder； and
said： 〃Hearken； lord； and delay no longer； but gird up thy gown；
since here is no mare's son to help thee： for fair is to…day that
lies before us； with many a new fair day beyond it。〃
So Hallblithe led the way inward； thinking of many things； yet but
little of his fellows。 Albeit they； and the younger man especially；
were of many words； for this black…haired man had many questions to
ask； chiefly concerning the women； what they were like to look on；
and of what mood they were。 Hallblithe answered thereto as long as
he might； but at last he laughed and said： 〃Friend； forbear thy
questions now； for meseemeth in a few hours thou shalt be as wise
hereon as is the God of Love himself。〃
So they made diligence along the road； and all was tidingless till on
the second day at even they came to the first house off the waste。
There had they good welcome； and slept。 But on the morrow when they
arose； Hallblithe spake to the Seekers； and said： 〃Now are things
much changed betwixt us since the time when we first met： for then I
had all my desire； as I thought； and ye had but one desire； and well
nigh lacked hope of its fulfilment。 Whereas now the lack hath left
you and come to me。 Wherefore even as time agone ye might not abide
even one night at the House of the Raven； so hard as your desire lay
on you； even so it fareth with me to…day； that I am consumed with my
desire； and I may not abide with you； lest that befall which
befalleth betwixt the full man and the fasting。 Wherefore now I
bless you and depart。〃
They abounded in words of good…will to him； and the once…king said：
〃Abide with us； and we shall see to it that thou have all the
dignities that a man may think of。〃
And the once…captain said： 〃Lo； here is mine hand that hath been
mighty； never shalt thou lack it for the accomplishment of thine
uttermost desire。 Abide with us。〃
Lastly said the young man： 〃Abide with us； Son of the Raven！ Set
thine heart on a fair woman； yea even were it the fairest； and I will
get her for thee； even were my desire set on her。〃
But he smiled on them； and shook his head； and said： 〃All hail to
you！ but mine errand is yet undone。〃 And therewith he departed。
He skirted Wood…end and came not to it； but got him down to the side
of the sea； not far from where he first came aland； but somewhat
south of it。 A fair oak…wood came down close to the beach of the
sea； it was some four miles end…long and over…thwart。 Thither
Hallblithe betook him； and in a day or two got him wood…wright's
tools from a house of men a little outside the wood； three miles from
the sea…shore。 Then he set to work and built him a little frame…
house on a lawn of the wood beside a clear stream； for he was a very
deft wood…wright。 Withal he made him a bow and arrows； and shot what
he would of the fowl and the deer for his livelihood； and folk from
that house and otherwhence came to see him； and brought him bread and
wine and spicery and other matters which he needed。 And the days
wore； and men got used to him； and loved him as if he had been a rare
image which had been brought to that land for its adornment； and now
they no longer called him the Spearman； but the Wood…lover。 And as
for him； he took all in patience； abiding what the lapse of days
should bring forth。
CHAPTER XIX： HALLBLITHE BUILDS HIM A SKIFF
After Hallblithe had been housed a little while； and the time was
again drawing nigh to the twelfth moon since he had come to the
Glittering Plain； he went in the wood one day； and； pondering many
things without fixing on any one； he stood before a very great oak…
tree and looked at the tall straight bole thereof； and there came
into his head the words of an old song which was written round a
scroll of the carving over the shut…bed； wherein he was wont to lie
when he was at home in the House of the Raven： and thus it said：
I am the oak…tree； and forsooth
Men deal by me with little ruth；
My boughs they shred； my life they slay；
And speed me o'er the watery way。
He looked up into that leafy world for a little and then turned back
toward his house； but all day long； whether he were at work or at
rest； that posy ran in his head； and he kept on saying it over； aloud
or not aloud； till the day was done and he went to sleep。
Then in his sleep he dreamed that an exceeding fair woman stood by
his bedside； and at first she seemed to him to be an image of the
Hostage。 But presently her face changed； and her body and her
raiment； and； lo！ it was the lovely woman； the King's daughter whom
he had seen wasting her heart for the love of him。 Then even in his
dream shame thereof overtook him； and because of that shame he awoke；
and lay awake a little； hearkening the wind going through the
woodland boughs； and the singing of the owl who had her dwelling in
the hollow oak nigh to his house。 Slumber overcame him in a little
while； and again the image of the King's daughter came to him in his
dream； and again when he looked upon her； shame and pity rose so
hotly in his heart that he awoke weeping； and lay a while hearkening
to the noises of the night。 The third time he slept and dreamed； and
once more that image came to him。 And now he looked； and saw that
she had in her hand a book covered outside with gold and gems； even
as he saw it in the orchard…close aforetime： and he beheld her face
that it was no longer the face of one sick with sorrow； but glad and
clear； and most beauteous。
Now she opened the book and held it before Hallblithe and turned the
leaves so that he might see them clearly； and therein were woods and
castles painted； and burning mountains； and the wall of the world；
and kings upon their thrones； and fair women and warriors； all most
lovely to behold； even as he had seen it aforetime in the orchard
when he lay lurking amidst the leaves of the bay…tree。
So at last she came to the place in the book wherein was painted
Hallblithe's own image over against the image of the Hostage； and he
looked thereon and longed。 But she turned the leaf； and； lo！ on one
side the Hostage again； standing in a fair garden of the spring with
the lilies all about her feet； and behind her the walls of a house；
grey； ancient； and lovely： and on the other leaf over against her
was painted a sea rippled by a little wind and a boat thereon sailing
swiftly； and one man alone in the boat sitting and steering with a
cheerful countenance； a