Thus they went, brown of skin beneath their flower-garlands, their
long hair bleached by the sun falling about their shoulders; high
they strode amongst the shuffling carles and tripping women of the
later-come thralls. But when they heard the music, and saw that they
were coming to the Gate in triumph, strange thoughts of old memories
swelled up in their hearts, and they refrained them not from weeping,
for they felt that the joy of life had come back to them.
Nor must it be deemed that these were the only ones amongst the
Runaways whose hearts were cheered and softened: already were many
of them coming back to life, as they felt their worn bodies caressed
by the clear soft air of Burgdale, and the sweetness of the flowers
that hung about them, and saw all round about the kind and happy
faces of their well-willers.
So Stone-face looked on the Bride as she stood with face yet tear-
bedewed, awaiting his answer, and said:
'Daughter, thou sayest who clad these folk thus? It was misery that
hath so dight them; and they are the images of what we shall be if we
love foul life better than fair death, and so fall into the hands of
the Felons, who were the masters of these men.
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