Therewith must the little ones also kiss her hand and be courteous;
and Birdalone suffered it, laughing, and then caught them up in her
arms, and clipped and kissed them well-favouredly; wherewith belike
they were not over-well pleased, though the boy endured it kindly.
Thereafter the elder set forth his banquet, which was simple enough:
upland cheer of cream and honey, and rough bread; but sweet it was to
Birdalone to eat it with good welcome, and the courtesy of the old
man.
When they were done, they went out-a-doors, and Birdalone and the old
man laid them down under an oak-tree, and the children sported about
anigh them. Then spake Birdalone: Old man, thou hast been kind unto
me; but now wouldest thou tell me about thee, what thou art, and what
are these walls about us here? Said he: I doubt if I may do so,
this day at least. But belike thou shalt abide with us, and then
some day the word may come into my mouth. She held her peace, and
into her mind it came that it would be sweet to dwell there, and
watch those fair children waxing, and the lad growing up and loving
her; yea, even she fell to telling up the years which would make him
a man, and tried to see herself, how she would look, when the years
were worn thereto.
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