“Well。”theFranklinsaid“thouseemestatrueman，andyetIwouldcounseltheetoputareinonthytonguewhenthouartmindedtotalkoftheDeviloftheDryTree，orthoumaystcometoharmintheBurg。”
　　Hewalkedawaytowardsthegallowstherewith；andRogersaid，almostasifheweretalkingtohimself；“Aheavy-footedfoolgoethyonder；
　　butafterthistalkwewerebetterhiddenbythewallsoftheFlower-de-Luce。”
　　Sotherewiththeywentontowardthehostel。
　　Butthemarketplacewaswide，andtheywereyetsomeminutesgettingtothedoor，anderetheycamethereRalphsaid，knittinghisbrowsanxiously：
　　“Isthiswomanfairorfoultolookon？”“Thatisnoughtsoeasytotellof。”saidRoger，“whilessheisfoul，whilesveryfair，whilesyoungandwhilesold；whilescruelandwhileskind。
　　Butnotethis，whensheisthekindestthenarehercarlesthecruellest；
　　andsheisthekindertothembecausetheyarecruel。”
　　Ralphponderedwhathesaid，andwonderedifthiswereverilythewomanwhomhehaddelivered，orsomeother。
　　Asifansweringtohisunspokenthought，Rogerwenton：
　　“TheyspeakbutofonewomanamongstthemoftheDryTree，butinsooththeyhavemanyotherswhoarelikeuntoherinonewayorother；andthisagainisareasonwhytheymaynotlayhandsontheveryQueenofthemall。”’
　　Therewithaltheycameuntothehostel，andfounditfairenoughwithin，thehallgreatandgoodlyforsuchahouse，andwithbutthreechapmen-carlestherein。Straightwaytheycalledformeat，foritwasnowpastnoon，andthefolkofthehouseservedthemwhenthegroomshadtakenchargeofFalcon。
　　AndRogerservedRalphasifhewereverilyhisman。
　　ThenRalphwenttohischamberaloftandrestedawhile，butcamedownintothehallalittlebeforenones，andfoundRogertherewalkingupanddownthehallfloor，andnomanelse，sohesaidtohim：“ThoughthouartnotoftheBurg，thouknowestit；wiltthounotcomeabroadthen，andshowitme？forIhaveamindtolearnthewaysofthefolkhere。”
　　SaidRoger，andsmiledalittle：“Ifthoucommandestmeasmylord，Iwillcome；yetIwerebetterpleasedtoabidebehind；forIamwearywithnight-wakingandsorrow；andhaveaburdenofthought，onewhichImustbeartotheendoftheroad；andifIputitdownI
　　shallhavetogobackandtakeitupagain。”
　　Ralphthoughtthatheexcusedhimselfwithmorewordsthanwereneeded；
　　buthetooklittleheedofit，butnoddedtohimfriendly，andwentoutofthehouseafoot，butlefthisweaponsandarmourbehindhimbytheredeofRoger。
　　CHAPTER13
　　TheStreetsoftheBurgoftheFourFrithsHewentaboutthestreetsandfoundthemallmuchliketotheonewhichtheyhadenteredbythenorthgate；hesawnopoororwretchedhouses，andnoneverybigasofgreatlords；theywerewellandstoutlybuilded，butasaforesaidnotmuchadornedeitherwithcarvenworkorpainting：
　　therewerefolkenoughinthestreets，andnowRalph，aswasliketobe，lookedspeciallyatthewomen，andthoughtmanyofthemlittlebetter-favouredthanthemen，beingbothdarkandlow；
　　neitherweretheygailyclad，thoughtheirraiment，likethehouses，wasstoutandwellwrought。Buthereandtherehecameonawomantallerandwhiterthantheothers，asthoughshewereofanotherblood；
　　allsuchoftheseashesawwerecladotherwisethanthedarkerwomen：
　　theirheadsuncoifed，uncoveredsaveforsomegarlandorsilkenband：
　　theirgownsyellowlikewheat-straw，butgailyembroidered；
　　sleevelesswithalandshort，scarcereachingtotheancles，andwhilessothinthattheywererathercladwiththeembroiderythanthecloth；
　　shoestheyhadnot，butsandalsboundontheirnakedfeetwithwhitethongs，andeachboreanironringaboutherrightarm。
　　Themorepartofthemenworeweaponsattheirsidesandhadstavesinhand，andwerecladinshortjerkinsbrownorblueofcolour，andlookedreadyforbattleifanymomentshouldcallthemthereto；
　　butamongthemweremenofdifferentfavourandstaturefromthese，tallerforthemostpart，unarmed，andcladinlonggownsoffaircolourswithclothsofthinandgay-colouredwebtwistedabouttheirheads。
　　Thesehetookformerchants，astheywereofteneststandinginandabouttheboothsandshops，whereofthereweresomeinallthestreets，thoughthemarketforvictualsandsuchlikehefoundoverforthatday，andbutscantilypeopled。
　　Outofoneofthesemarkets，whichwasthefishandfowlmarket，hecameintoalongstreetthatledhimdowntoagaterightoveragainstthatwherebyhehadenteredtheBurg；andashecametheretohesawthattherewasawidewayclearofallhousesinsideofthewall，sothatmen-at-armsmightgofreelyfromoneparttotheother；andhehadalsonotedthatawidewayledfromeachortoutofthegreatplace，andeachendednotbutinagate。
　　Butastoanycastleinthetown，hesawnone；andwhenheaskedaburgherthereof，thecarlelaughedinhisface，andsaidtohimthatthewholeBurg，housesandall，wasacastle，andthatitwouldturnouttobenoneoftheeasiesttowin。
　　AndforsoothRalphhimselfwasmuchofthatmind。
　　Nowhewasjustwithinthesouthgatewhenheheldthistalk，andthereweremanyfolktherebyalready，andmoreflockingthereto；
　　sohestoodtheretoseewhatshouldbetide；andanonheheardgreatblowingofhornsandtrumpetsallalongthewall，and，ashedeemed，otherhornsansweredfromwithout；andsoitwas；
　　forsoonthewithoutwardhornsgrewlouder，andthefolkfellbackoneithersideoftheway，andnextthegateswerethrownwideopenwhichbeforehadbeenshutsaveforawicketandthereaftercamethefirstofacompanyofmen-at-arms，foot-men，withbillssome，andsomewithbows，andall-armedknightsandsergeantsa-horseback。
　　SostreamedintheseweaponedmentillRalphsawthatitwasagreathostthatwasenteringtheBurg；andhisheartrosewithinhim，sowarrior-liketheywereofmenandarray，thoughnobigmenoftheirbodies；andmanyofthemboresignsofbattleaboutthem，bothinthebatteringoftheirarmourandtherendingoftheirraiment，andthecloutstiedaboutthewoundsontheirbodies。
　　Afterawhileamongthewarriorscameherdsofneatandflocksofsheepandstringsofhorses，ofthespoilwhichthehosthadlifted；
　　andthenwainsfilled，somewithweaponsandwargear，andsomewithbalesofgoodsandhouseholdstuff。Lastcamecaptives，somegoingafootandsomeforwearinessborneinwains；
　　forallthesewar-takenthrallswerewomenandwomen-children；
　　ofmalestherewasnotsomuchasalittlelad。OfthewomenmanyseemedfairtoRalphdespitetheirgriefandtravel；
　　andashelookedonthemhedeemedthattheymustbeofthekindredandnationofthefairwhitewomenhehadseeninthestreets；
　　thoughtheywerenotcladlikethose，butdiversely。
　　SoRalphgazedonthispageanttillallhadpassed，andhewaswearywiththeheatandthedustandtheconfusedclamourofshoutingandlaughterandtalking；andwhereasmostofthefolkfollowedafterthehostandtheirspoil，thestreetsofthetownthereaboutweresoonleftemptyandpeaceful。
　　Soheturnedintoastreetnarrowerthanmost，thatwenteastfromtheSouthGateandwasmuchshadedfromtheafternoonsun，andwentslowlydownit，meaningtocomeabouttheinsideofthewalltillheshouldhittheEastGate，andsointotheGreatPlacewhenthefolkshouldhavegonetheirwayshome。
　　Hesawnofolkinthestreetsavehereandthereanoldwomansittingatthedoorofherhouse，andmaybeayoungchildwithher。
　　Ashecametowherethestreetturnedsomewhat，evensuchacarlinewassittingonacleanwhitedoor-steponthesunnyside，somewhatshadedbyatallrose-laureltreeinagreattub，andshesangasshesatspinning，andRalphstayedtolisteninhisidlemood，andheheardhowshesanginadry，harshvoice：
　　ClashedswordonshieldIntheharvestfield；AndnomanblamesTheredredflames，War’scandle-wickOnroofandrick。NowdeadliestheyeomanunweptandunknownOnthefieldhehathfurrowed，theridgehehathsown：
　　AndallinthemiddleofwethersandneatThemaidensaredrivenwithbloodontheirfeet；Foryet’twixttheBurg-gateandbattlehalf-wonThedust-drivenhighwaycreepsuphillandon，Andthesmokeofthebeaconsgoescoilingaloft，Whilethegatheringhornblowethloud，louderandoft。
　　ThrowwidethegatesFornoughtnightwaits；ThoughthechaseisdeadThemoon’so’erheadAndweneedtheclearOurspoiltoshare。
　　Shakethelotsinthehelmthenforbrethrenarewe，Andthegoodsofmymissingaregainfultothee。Lo！thinearethewethers，andhisarethekine；Andthecoltsofthemarshlandunbrokenarethine，Withthedapple-greystallionthattrampledhisgroom；
　　AndGileshaththegold-blossomedroseoftheloom。Lo！leapsoutthelastlotandnoughthaveIwon，Butthemaidenunmerry，bybattleundone。
　　Evenashersongendedcameoneofthosefairyellow-gowneddamselsroundthecornerofthestreet，bearinginherhandalightbasketfullofflowers：
　　andsheliftedupherheadandbeheldRalphthere；thenshewentslowlyanddroppedhereyelids，anditwaspleasanttoRalphtobeholdher；
　　forshewasasfairasneedbe。Hercorn-colouredgownwasdaintyandthin，andbutforitssilverembroideryhadhiddenherlimbsbutlittle；
　　therosinessofheranclesshowedamidstherwhitesandal-thongs，andthereweresilverringsandgoldonherarmsalongwiththeironring。
　　NowshelifteduphereyesandlookedshylyatRalph，andhesmiledatherwell-pleased，anddeemeditwouldbegoodtohearhervoice；
　　sohewentuptoherandgreetedher，andsheseemedtotakehisgreetingwell，thoughsheglancedswiftlyatthecarlineinthedoorway。
　　SaidRalph：“Fairmaiden，Iamastrangerinthistown，andhaveseenthingsIdonotwhollyunderstand；nowwiltthoutellmebeforelaskthenextquestion，whowillbethosewar-takenthrallswhomevennowIsawbroughtintotheBurgbythehost？ofwhatnationbethey，andofwhatkindred？”
　　Straightwaywasthedamselallchanged；sheleftherdaintytricks，anddrewherselfupstraightandstiff。Shelookedathimintheeyes，flushingred，andwithknitbrows，amoment，andthenpassedbyhimwithswiftandfirmfeetasonebothangryandashamed。
　　Butthecarlinewhohadbeheldthetwowithagrinonherwrinkledfacechangedaspectalso，andcriedoutfiercelyafterthedamsel，andsaid：
　　“What！dostthoufleefromthefairyoungman，andhesokindandsoftwiththee，thoujade？Yea，Isupposethoudostfetchandcarryforsomemistresswhoisyoungandafool，andwhohasnotyetlearnedhowtodealwiththedaughtersofthineaccursedfolk。
　　Ah！ifIhadbutmoneytobuysomeoneofyou，andagoodone，sheshoulddosomethingelseformethanshowingherfairnesstoyoungmen；andIwouldpayherforherlonglegsandherwhiteskin，tillsheshouldcurseherfatethatshehadnotbeenbornlittleanddark-skinnedandfree，andwithheelsun-bloodiedwiththebloodofherback。”
　　Thusshewenton，thoughthedamselwaslongoutofear-shotofhercurses；
　　andRalphtarriednottogetawayfromherspitefulbabble，whichhenowpartlyunderstood；andthatallthoseyellow-claddamselswerethrallstothefolkoftheBurg；andbelikewereofthekindredofthosecaptiveslate-takenwhomhehadseenamidstthehostatitsenteringintotheBurg。
　　Sohewanderedawaythencethinkingonwhatheshoulddotillthesunwasset，andhehadcomeintotheopenspaceunderneaththewalls，andhadgonealongittillhecametotheEastGate：
　　therehelookedaroundhimalittleandfoundpeopleflowingbackfromtheGreatPlace，wheretotheyhadgatheredtoseethehostmusteredandthespoilblessed；thenhewentonstillunderthewall，andnotednotthathereandthereamanturnedabouttolookuponhimcuriously，forhewasdeepinthought，concerningthethingswhichhehadseenandheardof，andponderedmuchwhatmighthavebefallenhisbrethrensincetheysunderedattheWant-waynightotheHighHouseofUpmeads。
　　WithalthechiefthingthathedesiredwastogethimawayfromtheBurg，forhefelthimselfunfreetherein；andhesaidtohimselfthatifhewereforcedtodwellamongthisfolk，thathehadbetterneverhavestolenhimselfawayfromhisfatherandmother；andwhilesevenhethoughtthathewoulddohisbestonthemorrowtogethimbackhometoUpmeadsagain。
　　Butthenwhenhethoughtofhowhislifewouldgoinhisoldhome，thereseemedtohimalack，andwhenhequestionedhimselfastowhatthatlackwas，straightwayheseemedtoseethatLadyoftheWildwoodstandingbeforethemen-at-armsinherscantyraimenttheminutebeforehislifewasatadventurebecauseofthem。
　　Andinsoothhesmiledtohimselfthenwithabeatingheart，ashetoldhimselfthataboveallthingshedesiredtoseethatLady，whatevershemightbe，andthathewouldfollowhisadventuretotheenduntilhemether。
　　AmidstthesethoughtshecameuntotheNorthGate，wherebyhehadfirstenteredtheBurg，andbythenitwasasdarkasthesummernightwouldbe；
　　sohewokeupfromhisdream，asitwere，andtookhiswaybrisklybacktotheFlowerdeLuce。