YetIknowthatthouwiltabideheretillsomeoneelsecome，whetherthatbeearlyorlate。”Againhereddened，andsaid，inacoaxingway：“Andwiltthougivemeguesting，mother，forafewmoresummerdays？”
“Yea。”shesaid，“andtillsummerisover，ifneedbe，andthecorniscutandcarried，andtillthewinteriscomeandthelatterendofwinterisgone。”Hesmiledfaintly，thoughhisheartfell，andhesaid：
“Nay，mother，andcanitbyanychancebesolonga-coming？”
“O，fairboy。”shesaid，“thouwiltmakeitlong，howsoevershortitbe。AndnowIwillgivetheearede，lestthouvexthyselfsickandfretthyveryheart。
To-morrowgoseeifthoucanstmeetthyfateinsteadofabidingit。