Albeit she was a childless woman.
So when he had got to horse, she watched him riding a moment, and saw how he waved his hand to her as he turned the corner of the market-place, and how a knot of lads and lasses stood staring on him after she lost sight of him.

Then she turned her back into the chamber and laid her head on the table and wept.

Then came in the goodman quietly and stood by her and she heeded him not.

He stood grinning curiously on her awhile, and then laid his hand on her shoulder, and said as she raised her face to him: "Sweetheart, it availeth nought; when thou wert young and exceeding fair, he was but a little babe, and thou wert looking in those days to have babes of thine own; and then it was too soon: and now that he is such a beauteous young man, and a king's son withal, and thou art wedded to a careful carle of no weak heart, and thou thyself art more than two-score years old, it is too late.

Yet thou didst well to give our lord the money.