Page:The Sundering Flood - Morris - 1898.djvu/85

 gift given? The carle smiled somewhat ruefully, and said: The gift is given; and soothly it is for the youngling to give since all will come to him, be it more or less. I will take it then, said the guest, since good will goeth with it; but look to it, goodman, if I reward thee not therefor, for as ragged as I came into thine house.

Now therewith they break their fast; and the last night's wind has fallen utterly, and the sky is blue and the sun bright, and it is warm for that season. Then Osberne gives the sealed bundle to Waywearer, and he took it and did it on to his saddle-bow, and he mounts, and Osberne also, who is dight in his fair-dyed raiment; and they set out up the Dale, and ride swiftly, and are few-spoken together. So they rode till they were past the last house, the cot to wit above told of, and then they came into a fair little clough with a bright stream running through it toward the Sundering Flood; and there were bushes and small wood up and down the clough, and there Waywearer, that is to say, Steelhead, drew rein, and said to Osberne: Meseems this is as far as thou needest lead me out, lad, so let us off horse and go down and sit by the brook.

So they did, and tied their horses to a thorn-bush growing thereby; and Waywearer took the bundle off his horse and said to Osberne: Hast thou any guess at what this good thing is? Osberne reddened and said: That is the sword which thou didst promise me last spring. Waywearer laughed and said: Sharp are thine eyes to see a sword