Farewell, son Hubert, and all joy to you.
Farewell, Blanche. Learn to be obedient as a wife and keep your eyes for
your husband's face, that is my counsel to you. Till we meet again at
Christmastide in Sussex, whither I ride to-morrow, farewell to both of
you."
Farewell, it was indeed, for never did either of us look on him again.
Wrapped close in our cloaks we battled through the storm and at length,
somewhat breathless, reached my house in the Cheap where the garlands of
autumn flowers and greenery that I had caused to be wreathed from posts
before the door were all torn away by the gale. Here I welcomed my wife
as best I could, kissing her as she crossed the threshold and saying
certain sweet words that I had prepared, to which she smiled an answer.
Then the women took her to her chamber to make herself ready and
afterwards came the feast, which was sumptuous of its sort, though the
evil weather kept some of the guests away.
Scarcely had it begun when Kari, who of late had been sad-faced and
brooding, and who did not eat with us, entered and whispered to me that
my Master of Lading from the docks prayed to see me at once on a matter
which would brook no delay.
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