Next morning, while the day was yet young, they rode together, all ofthem, the nighest way to the Tofts, for they knew the wood right well.Again they slept one night under the bare heavens, and, rising betimes onthe morrow, came out under the Tofts some four hours after high noon, onas fair and calm a day of early summer as ever was seen.
They rode up straight to the door of the great hall, and found but fewfolk about, and those mostly women and children; Jack was ridden abroad,they said, but they looked to see him back to supper, him and his sons, forhe was no great way gone.
Meantime, when they got off their horses, the women and childrenthronged round about them; and the children especially about Christopher,whom they loved much. The maidens, also, would not have him passinto the hall unkissed, though presently, after their faces had felt his lips,they fell a-staring and wondering at Goldilind, and when Christopher tookher by the hand and gave her welcome to the House of the Tofts, and theysaw that she was his, they grew to be somewhat afraid, or it might be shy,both of her and of him.
Anyhow, folk came up to them in the hall, and made much of them,and took them unto chambers and washed their feet, and crowned themwith flowers, and brought them into the hall again, and up on to the dais,and gave them to eat and drink. Thither came to them also the LadyMargaret, Jack's wedded wife, and made them the most cheer that shemight; and unto her did Christopher tell his story as unto his very mother;and what there was in the house, both of carle and of quean, gatheredround about to hearken, and Christopher nothing loth. And Goldilind'sheart warmed toward that folk, and in sooth they were a goodly people tolook on, and frank and happy, and of good will, and could well of courtesy,though it were not of the courts.