they　deem　me　their　God；　they　do　not　look　for　it；　nor　desire　it；　that
  their　God　should　dwell　with　them　daily。　　Have　no　fear。〃　　Then　she
  laughed　again；　and　said：　　〃What！　thou　lookest　on　me　and　deemest　me
  to　be　but　a　sorry　image　of　a　goddess；　and　me　with　my　scanty　coat　and
  bare　arms　and　naked　feet！　　But　wait！　　I　know　well　how　to　array　me
  when　the　time　cometh。　　Thou　shalt　see　it！　　And　now；　my　Master；　were
  it　not　meet　that　we　took　to　the　road？〃
  So　they　arose；　and　found　a　ford　of　the　river　that　took　the　Maid　but
  to　the　knee；　and　so　set　forth　up　the　greensward　of　the　slopes
  whereas　there　were　but　few　trees；　so　went　they　faring　toward　the
  hill…country。
  At　the　last　they　were　come　to　the　feet　of　the　very　hills；　and　in　the
  hollows　betwixt　the　buttresses　of　them　grew　nut　and　berry　trees；　and
  the　greensward　round　about　them　was　both　thick　and　much　flowery。
  There　they　stayed　them　and　dined；　whereas　Walter　had　shot　a　hare　by
  the　way；　and　they　had　found　a　bubbling　spring　under　a　grey　stone　in
  a　bight　of　the　coppice；　wherein　now　the　birds　were　singing　their
  best。
  When　they　had　eaten　and　had　rested　somewhat；　the　Maid　arose　and
  said：　　〃Now　shall　the　Queen　array　herself；　and　seem　like　a　very
  goddess。〃
  Then　she　fell　to　work；　while　Walter　looked　on；　and　she　made　a
  garland　for　her　head　of　eglantine　where　the　roses　were　the　fairest；
  and　with　mingled　flowers　of　the　summer　she　wreathed　her　middle
  about；　and　let　the　garland　of　them　hang　down　to　below　her　knees；　and
  knots　of　the　flowers　she　made　fast　to　the　skirts　of　her　coat；　and
  did　them　for　arm…rings　about　her　arms；　and　for　anklets　and　sandals
  for　her　feet。　　Then　she　set　a　garland　about　Walter's　head；　and　then
  stood　a　little　off　from　him　and　set　her　feet　together；　and　lifted　up
  her　arms；　and　said：　　〃Lo　now！　am　I　not　as　like　to　the　Mother　of
  Summer　as　if　I　were　clad　in　silk　and　gold？　and　even　so　shall　I　be
  deemed　by　the　folk　of　the　Bear。　　Come　now；　thou　shalt　see　how　all
  shall　be　well。〃
  She　laughed　joyously；　but　he　might　scarce　laugh　for　pity　of　his
  love。　　Then　they　set　forth　again；　and　began　to　climb　the　hills；　and
  the　hours　wore　as　they　went　in　sweet　converse；　till　at　last　Walter
  looked　on　the　Maid；　and　smiled　on　her；　and　said：　　〃One　thing　I　would
  say　to　thee；　lovely　friend；　to　wit：　　wert　thou　clad　in　silk　and
  gold；　thy　stately　raiment　might　well　suffer　a　few　stains；　or　here
  and　there　a　rent　maybe；　but　stately　would　it　be　still　when　the　folk
  of　the　Bear　should　come　up　against　thee。　　But　as　to　this　flowery
  array　of　thine；　in　a　few　hours　it　shall　be　all　faded　and　nought。
  Nay；　even　now；　as　I　look　on　thee；　the　meadow…sweet　that　hangeth　from
  thy　girdle…stead　has　waxen　dull；　and　welted；　and　the　blossoming
  eyebright　that　is　for　a　hem　to　the　little　white　coat　of　thee　is
  already　forgetting　how　to　be　bright　and　blue。　　What　sayest　thou
  then？〃
  She　laughed　at　his　word；　and　stood　still；　and　looked　back　over　her
  shoulder；　while　with　her　fingers　she　dealt　with　the　flowers　about
  her　side　like　to　a　bird　preening　his　feathers。　　Then　she　said：　　〃Is
  it　verily　so　as　thou　sayest？　　Look　again！〃
  So　he　looked；　and　wondered；　for　lo！　beneath　his　eyes　the　spires　of
  the　meadow…sweet　grew　crisp　and　clear　again；　the　eyebright　blossoms
  shone　once　more　over　the　whiteness　of　her　legs；　the　eglantine　roses
  opened；　and　all　was　as　fresh　and　bright　as　if　it　were　still　growing
  on　its　own　roots。
  He　wondered；　and　was　even　somedeal　aghast；　but　she　said：　　〃Dear
  friend；　be　not　troubled！　did　I　not　tell　thee　that　I　am　wise　in
  hidden　lore？　　But　in　my　wisdom　shall　be　no　longer　any　scathe　to　any
  man。　　And　again；　this　my　wisdom；　as　I　told　thee　erst；　shall　end　on
  the　day　whereon　I　am　made　all　happy。　　And　it　is　thou　that　shall
  wield　it　all；　my　Master。　　Yet　must　my　wisdom　needs　endure　for　a
  little　season　yet。　　Let　us　on　then；　boldly　and　happily。〃
  CHAPTER　XXVI：　　THEY　COME　TO　THE　FOLK　OF　THE　BEARS
  On　they　went；　and　before　long　they　were　come　up　on　to　the　down…
  country；　where　was　scarce　a　tree；　save　gnarled　and　knotty　thorn…
  bushes　here　and　there；　but　nought　else　higher　than　the　whin。　　And
  here　on　these　upper　lands　they　saw　that　the　pastures　were　much
  burned　with　the　drought；　albeit　summer　was　not　worn　old。　　Now　they
  went　making　due　south　toward　the　mountains；　whose　heads　they　saw
  from　time　to　time　rising　deep　blue　over　the　bleak　greyness　of　the
  down…land　ridges。　　And　so　they　went；　till　at　last；　hard　on　sunset；
  after　they　had　climbed　long　over　a　high　bent；　they　came　to　the　brow
  thereof；　and；　looking　down；　beheld　new　tidings。
  There　was　a　wide　valley　below　them；　greener　than　the　downs　which
  they　had　come　over；　and　greener　yet　amidmost；　from　the　watering　of　a
  stream　which；　all　beset　with　willows；　wound　about　the　bottom。　　Sheep
  and　neat　were　pasturing　about　the　dale；　and　moreover　a　long　line　of
  smoke　was　going　up　straight　into　the　windless　heavens　from　the　midst
  of　a　ring　of　little　round　houses　built　of　turfs；　and　thatched　with
  reed。　　And　beyond　that；　toward　an　eastward…lying　bight　of　the　dale；
  they　could　see　what　looked　like　to　a　doom…ring　of　big　stones；　though
  there　were　no　rocky　places　in　that　land。　　About　the　cooking…fire
  amidst　of　the　houses；　and　here　and　there　otherwhere；　they　saw；
  standing　or　going　to　and　fro；　huge　figures　of　men　and　women；　with
  children　playing　about　betwixt　them。
  They　stood　and　gazed　down　at　it　for　a　minute　or　two；　and　though　all
  were　at　peace　there；　yet　to　Walter；　at　least；　it　seemed　strange　and
  awful。　　He　spake　softly；　as　though　he　would　not　have　his　voice　reach
  those　men；　though　they　were；　forsooth；　out　of　earshot　of　anything
  save　a　shout：　　〃Are　these　then　the　children　of　the　Bear？　　What　shall
  we　do　now？〃
  She　said：　　〃Yea；　of　the　Bear　they　be；　though　there　be　other　folks　of
  them　far　and　far　away　to　the　northward　and　eastward；　near　to　the
  borders　of　the　sea。　　And　as　to　what　we　shall　do；　let　us　go　down　at
  once；　and　peacefully。　　Indeed；　by　now　there　will　be　no　escape　from
  them；　for　lo　you！　they　have　seen　us。〃
  Forsooth；　some　three　or　four　of　the　big　men　had　turned　them　toward
  the　bent　whereon　stood　the　twain；　and　were　hailing　them　in　huge；
  rough　voices；　wherein；　howsoever；　seemed　to　be　no　anger　or　threat。
  So　the　Maid　took　Walter　by　the　hand；　and　thus　they　went　down
  quietly；　and　the　Bear…folk；　seeing　them；　stood　all　together；　facing
  them；　to　abide　their　coming。　　Walter　saw　of　them；　that　though　they
  were　very　tall　and　bigly　made；　they　were　not　so　far　above　the
  stature　of　men　as　to　be　marvels。　　The　carles　were　long…haired；　and
  shaggy　of　beard；　and　their　hair　all　red　or　tawny；　their　skins；　where
  their　naked　flesh　showed；　were　burned　brown　with　sun　and　weather；
  but　to　a　fair　and　pleasant　brown；　nought　like　to　blackamoors。　　The
  queans　were　comely　and　well…eyed；　nor　was　there　anything　of　fierce
  or　evil…looking　about　either　the　carles　or　the　queans；　but　somewhat
  grave　and　solemn　of　aspect　were　they。　　Clad　were　they　all；　saving
  the　young　men…children；　but　somewhat　scantily；　and　in　nought　save
  sheep…skins　or　deer…skins。
  For　weapons　they　saw　amongst　them　clubs；　and　spears　headed　with　bone
  or　flint；　and　ugly　axes　of　big　flints　set　in　wooden　handles；　nor　was
  there；　as　far　as　they　could　see；　either　now　or　afterward；　any　bow
  amongst　them。　　But　some　of　the　young　men　seemed　to　have　slings　done
  about　their　shoulders。
  Now　when　they　were　come　but　three　fathom　from　them；　the　Maid　lifted
  up　her　voice；　and　spake　clearly　and　sweetly：　　〃Hail；　ye　folk　of　the
  Bears！　we　have　come　amongst　you；　and　that　for　your　good　and　not　for
  your　hurt：　　wherefore　we　would　know　if　we　be　welcome。〃
  There　was　an　old　man　who　stood　foremost　in　the　midst；　clad　in　a
  mantle　of　deer…skins　worked　very　goodly；　and　with　a　gold　ring　on　his
  arm；　and　a　chaplet　of　blue　stones　on　his　head；　and　he　spake：
  〃Little　are　ye；　but　so　goodly；　that　if　ye　were　but　bigger；　we　should
  deem　that　ye　were　come　from　the　Gods'　House。　　Yet　have　I　heard；　that
  how　mighty　soever　may　the　Gods　be；　and　chiefly　our　God；　they　be　at
  whiles　nought　so　bigly　made　as　we　of　the　Bears。　　How　this　may　be；　I
  wot　not。　　But　if　ye　be　not　of　the　Gods　or　their　kindred；　then　are　ye
  mere　aliens；　and　we　know　not　what　to　do　with　aliens；　save　we　meet
  them　in　battle；　or　give　them　to　the　God；　or　save　we　make　them
  children　of　the　Bear。　　But　yet　again；　ye　may　be　messengers　of　some
  folk　who　would　bind　friendship　and　alliance　with　us：　　in　which　case
  ye　shall　at　the　least　depart　in　peace；　and　whiles　ye　are　with　us
  shall　be　our　guests　in　all　good　cheer。　　Now；　therefore；　we　bid　you
  declare　the　matter　unto　us。〃
  Then　spake　the　Maid：　　〃Father；　it　were　easy　for　us　to　declare　what
  we　be　unto　you　here　present。　　But；　meseemeth；　ye　who　be　gathered
  round　the　fire　here　this　evening　are　less　than　the　whole　tale　of　the
  children　of　the　Bear。〃
  〃So　it　is；　Maiden；〃　said　the　elder；　〃that　many　more　children　hath
  the　Bear。〃
  〃This　then　we　bid　you；〃　said　the　Maid；　〃that　ye　send　the　tokens
  round　and　gather　your　people　to　you；　and　when　they　be　assembled　in
  the　Doom…ring；　then　shall　we　put　our　errand　before　you；　and
  according　to　that；　shall　ye　deal　with　us。〃
  〃Thou　hast　spoken　well；〃　said　the　elder；　〃and　even　so　had　we　bidden
  you　ourselves。　　To…morrow；　before　noon；　shall　ye　stand　in　the　Doom…
  r