Now awoke Goldilind when the morning was young and fresh, andshe drew the mantle up over her shoulders; and as she did so, but halfawake, she deemed she heard other sounds than the singing of the black-birds and throstles about the edge of the thicket, and she turned her eyestoward the oak trees and the hazel-thicket, and saw at once three ofmankind coming on foot over the greensward toward her. She was afraid,so that she durst not put out a hand to awaken Christopher, but sat gazingon those three as they came toward her; she saw that two were tall men,clad much as Christopher; but presently she saw that there was a womanwith them, and she took heart somewhat thereat; and she noted that one ofthe men was short-haired and dark-haired, and the other had long red hairfalling about his shoulders; and as she put out her hand and laid it onChristopher's shoulder, the red-haired one looked toward her a momentunder the sharp of his hand (for the sun was on their side), and then set offrunning, giving out a great whoop therewithal. Even therewith leapt upChristopher, still half awake, and the red-haired man ran right up to him,and caught him by the shoulders, and kissed him on both cheeks; so thatGoldilind saw that these were the fellows whereof Christopher had told,and she stood there shame-fast and smiling.
Presently came up the others, to wit, Gilbert and Joanna, and they alsokissed and embraced Christopher, and all they were as full of joy as mightbe. Then came Joanna to Goldilind, and said: "I wot not who this maybe, brother, yet meseems she will be someone who is dear to thee,wherefore is she my sister." And therewith she kissed Goldilind; and shewas kind, and sweet of flesh, and goodly of body, and Goldilind rejoicedin her.