homeward

still further did sir galahad have a mind to travel but he found from learned men that to go further east was to travel into uncertainties which few had ventured before him. nor would he have paused even then, were it not that he realized well that little likelihood was there for the lost grail to be found in the far east.

so he turned his face west again. slowly he made his way home. there were days now, he misdoubted the success of his search and he questioned his own worthiness.

after months and months of travel he reached france once again. when he came to gascony he found the rightful ruler on the throne and the house of sanscourt, well and happy. great was the welcome given the knight by the happy family and a great feast was held for them. the lady jeanne was radiant with the happiness which had returned after seeming desertion.

"we owe you much, sir galahad," said sir vilard, "so very much that it is beyond repayment."

"mine and sir launcelot's was the joy of service, my lord. that you must well understand."

when they reached normandy, charles was given a happy reception. he had grown, and had profited well by his travels and service to sir galahad whom he would not leave now. for he hoped to be made a knight by him. in normandy, sir galahad stayed for more than a month. he had acquired great fame because of his travels and deeds yet did he find small pleasure in this for the great purpose of his journeys had failed.

it was on a day just before he was to return to england. he had mounted the seeker and without companion had gone forth for the morning. his thoughts were of the grail, of his great wish to find it, and ever with his thoughts the wish to prove to yosalinde that it was in him to find it. well he knew that she would understand his desire even though he could not bring to her the fulfillment of that desire.

"yet who am i to find myself disheartened. i must not question, keep ever seeking." so he thought to himself and gave no heed to where the seeker carried him.

nor did it seem strange to the knight that he found himself in a narrow path of the woods and before him the strange monk who had first given him urge to seek the holy grail.

"i greet you, holy father. nor can i say to you that i have yet proven worthy of the finding of that which i have long sought."

"yet have you traveled far, my son. is it not so?"

"far and to many lands, holy sir. but nowhere have i found that which brought me nearer to it."

"too, i know how worthy of the finding you are. well have you kept your purpose high, knightly have your deeds been?"

"holy father, i have but tried. ever have i kept your words before me. and deem it all worth the while, even though it end with my not finding the grail. for, father, this will i always say, that joy has there been in the seeking."

"think you then, my son, you will not find it?" the monk asked.

"i know not, father. think me not grown tired of the search. think not that i complain that the search is long or arduous. i shall go on seeking where the call may lead me. and ever seek to be worthy of finding it. he who decides all things shall decide as to that. nor will he find me ever questioning. for this i have found. god is good and his ways are ever for the best."

"glad am i to hear that the search goes on. my blessing goes with you. well have i kept the count of all the days of your journeyings and great is my pride in you. so son, seek on for who can tell what the morrow brings."

then the holy man left him. yet sir galahad did not go until long after sundown. and when he did, doubled was the strength of his purpose.

and on the morrow he was on his way to england.