Page:The Sundering Flood - Morris - 1898.djvu/374

 and will furnish you with way-beasts and guides thereto. But I leave it to you, Carline, whether ye do not risk greatly to take such a pearl with you into the place which is peopled by the worst of men. Said the Carline: To tell you the truth, Father, I have pieces of wisdom by which I can blind the eyes of foolish men, so that they will see nothing of the delicate beauty of my daughter here. Well, said the Sub-prior, and smiled.

So the very next morning it was as the Sub-prior said. Two lay-brothers brought them down to the water-side, and at parting gave a writing into the hand of the Carline. And when they were safely over the mighty Flood, and landed on a pleasant strand where the water was shallow and the current none so swift, the ferry-man spoke a word of them to one of the brotherhood who had stood watching the crossing of that boat. With a friendly greeting he turned and led the way to the Friary, a fair stone building, set with a wall both high and long. Here met the Carline and the Maiden with a kindly welcome, and were set in the guest-house to rest that night. And, said the good brothers, their matter might be seen to, and they would send them on through the Wood Masterless; and that there was such a house as the Carline would have, which is in good case, said they, though it may want here and there a nail or a plank.

And in the morning two of the brothers were bidden array themselves and take sumpter-horses and good horses for the women, and to lead them