Page:The Sundering Flood - Morris - 1898.djvu/333

 So the talk thereof dropped down in a while; but the Carline, who had been shown to a good seat not far off, heard all this, and said to herself: I wonder if this old knight is somewhat wise of foresight, for surely along the same road bendeth my mind. And afterwards, the next morning, when as it happed the Carline was standing close to the lord, and they two alone, she said to him: Lord, might an old and feeble woman ask of thy wisdom without rebuke if thou hast any inkling of what thine end shall be? He looked hard on her and said: Dame, I note of thee that thou hast some foresight of things to come, and thou art old as I am, therefore to thee will I tell it, as I would to none other, that I shall fall in battle, and in that said battle our backs shall be turned toward the foe and our faces toward the world beyond; and this shall be ere the earth is eighteen months older. So she thanked him, and they parted.

But as for the Maiden, she also had hearkened heedfully to the talk of the two knights, and something went to her heart as they talked about a meet fellow for this great captain, and she said to herself: Ah! and where shall such a man be on the earth, if it be not he whom no man friendly may see without his heart being drawn to him? whom no foe may see without casting aside hope of victory? the wise one, while yet a boy, of the war of East Cheaping, the frank and the fair, and mine own love who is seeking me?

When the morning was they departed with all