The children came running up merrily when they saw the Sun-beam, but
stopped short shyly when they noted the tall fair stranger with her.
They were all strong and sturdy children, and some very fair, but
brown with the weather, if not with the sun. Bow-may came up to
Gold-mane and took his hand and greeted him kindly and said:
'So here thou art at last in Shadowy Vale; and I hope that thou art
content therewith, and as happy as I would wish thee to be. Well,
this is the first time; and when thou comest the second time it may
well be that the world shall be growing better.'
She held the distaff which she bore in her hand (for she had been
spinning) as if it were a spear; her limbs were goodly and shapely,
and she trod the thick grass of the Vale with a kind of wary
firmness, as though foemen might be lurking nearby. The Sun-beam
smiled upon her kindly and said:
'That shall not fail to be, Bow-may: ye have won a new friend to-
day. But tell me, when dost thou look to see the men here, for I was
down by the water when they went away yesterday?'
'They shall come into the Dale a little after sunset,' said Bow-may.
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