Some, they were led away westward down the Portway to the homesteads
thereabout; and for divers of these the way was long to their halls,
and they would have to wend over long stretches of dewy meadows, and
hear the night-wind whisper in many a tree, and see the east begin to
lighten with the dawn before they came to the lighted feast that
awaited them. But some turned up the Portway straight towards
Burgstead; and short was their road to the halls where even now the
lights were being kindled for their greeting.
As for the Sun-beam, she had been very quiet the day long, speaking
as little as she might do, laughing not at all, and smiling for
kindness' sake rather than for merriment; and when the grooms came
seeking their maidens, she withdrew herself from the band, and stood
alone amidst the road nigher to Burgstead than they; and her heart
beat hard, and her breath came short and quick, as though fear had
caught her in its grip; and indeed for one moment of time she feared
that he was not coming to her. For he had gone with the other grooms
to that gathered band, and had passed from one to the other, not
finding her, till he had got him through the whole company, and
beheld her awaiting him.
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