Therefore let us take the gifts
of our friends, and thank them blithely. For surely, as saith Folk-
might, henceforth the wood shall become a road betwixt us, and the
thicket a halting-place for friends bearing goodwill in their hands.'
When he had spoken, men yeasaid his words and forbore the gifts no
longer; and the Folk-mote sundered in all loving-kindness.
CHAPTER LV. DEPARTURE FROM SILVER-DALE
On morrow of the morrow were the Burgdale men and they of the
Shepherds gathered together in the Market-stead early in the morning,
and they were all ready for departure; and the men of the Wolf and
the Woodlanders, and of the delivered thralls a great many, stood
round about them grieving that they must go. There was much talk
between the folk of the Dale and the Guests, and many promises were
given and taken to come and go betwixt the two Dales. There also
were the men of the thrall-folk who were to wend home with the
Burgdalers; and they had been stuffed with good things by the men of
the kindreds, and were as fain as might be.
As for the Sun-beam, she was somewhat out of herself at first, being
eager and restless beyond her wont, and yet at whiles weeping-ripe
when she called to mind that she was now leaving all those things,
the gain whereof had been a dream to her both waking and sleeping for
these years past.
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