noon
She answered not , and they parted for that time . But the next week , there being yet no tidings come to hand , Birdalone prayed the castellan to take her out-a-gates again , that she might once more behold the mountains , and the gates thereof ; and he yeasaid her asking , and went with her , well accompanied , as before ; but this time , by Birdalone 's will , they rode straight to the plain aforesaid , and again she looked into that dale of the Greywethers from the knoll . Somewhat belated they were , so that they might not get back to the castle before dusk , wherefore again they lay out in the wildwood , but there lacked somewhat of the triumph and joyance which they had had that other day . They came back to the castle on the morrow somewhat after noon , and found no news there ; nor , to say sooth , did Birdalone look for any ; and her heart was heavy . NOW had the time so worn that the season was in the first days of August , and weariness and heartsickness increased on Birdalone again , and she began to look pined and pale . Yet when she spake of the tarrying of the Champions both to the castellan and Sir Leonard the priest -LRB- who was the wiser man of the two -RRB- , each said the same thing , to wit , that it was no marvel if they were not yet come , seeing whatlike the adventure was ; and neither of those two seemed in anywise to have lost hope . Thrice in these last days did Birdalone go out-a-gates with Sir Aymeris and his company ; and the last of the three times the journey was to the knoll that looked into the Black Valley ; but now was Birdalone 's pleasure of the sight of it afar off marred by her longing to be amidst thereof ; yet she did not show that she was irked by the refraining of her desire to enter therein , and they turned , and came home safely to the castle .