And when she had so spoken, she might not refrain her tears; and the
Gerardsons turned away, for they were ashamed, both that they should
see her weep, or she them. But at last she called to them and said:
Now make we the speediest end we may of this, for sorry work is the
tarrying of farewell; so I pray you, my friends, to go about the work
I have bidden you.
So all was done as she would, and the day after the morrow was
Birdalone abiding the coming of Gerard and his sons with the horses;
and despite of the sundering of friends and the perils that belike
lay before her, the world seemed fair to her, and life beginning
anew. And she made no doubt that she would soon be at the Castle of
the Quest, and there find all things much as she had left them; and
there at least would be the welcome of her dear friend Viridis.
CHAPTER VI. OF THE SUNDERING OF BIRDALONE FROM GERARD AND HIS SONS
Presently were the horses come with Gerard and his sons, and
Birdalone gat to horse amongst them. She was armed in a light
hauberk, and over it a long and loose surcoat that came down beneath
the knee of her; and a sallet she had upon her head, wide but light,
so that not very much of her face was to be seen.
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