I knew I was of the seed of Forester John and through him the child of a motley of ancient kings, but war and famine had stripped our house to the bone.

And now I, the last of the stock, dwelt with a miserly mother's uncle who did shipwright's work for the foreign captains.

The mirror told me that I was fair to look on, though ill-nourished, and my soul assured me that I had no fear.

Therefore I had hope, but I ate my heart out waiting on fortune." She was looking at the monk with unseeing eyes, her head half turned towards him.
"Then came Willebald one March morning.

I saw him walk up the jetty in a new red cloak, a personable man with a broad beard and a jolly laugh.
I knew him by repute as the luckiest of the Flemish venturers.