When the Black Squire came back from the leaguer of the
Red Hold, and had heard before of thy departure, he was heavy of mood
and few-spoken, and wandered about as one who might find no rest; yet
was he not stern with Atra, who for her part was no less heavy-
hearted: soothly a sad company we were, and it was somewhat better
when my Lord Arthur went his ways from us; and indeed eager he was to
be gone; and it could be seen of him that he was fain of the toil and
peril which they of Greenford offered him. Then in some four months
spake my lord Hugh that he also would be gone to a place where were
both a land and folk that would look friendly on him; so he went with
my lady Viridis and my lady Aurea, and they had Atra also with them;
and me also they would have had, but my heart failed me to leave the
place where I had been so glad and so sorry with thee; death had been
better; wherefore in yonder bower as in an hermitage I serve God and
abide my time. But though I wot nought of where is gone the Black
Squire, I know whereto those four are gone, and it is but a seven
days' ride hence, and the land is goodly and peaceable, and if they
be not dead, most like they be there yet.
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