It's Smith's grandfather, Rider, before leaving Wootton Major for ever:
"Goodbye for now, Alf," he said.
"I leave you to manage things as best you can, which is always very well. I expect it will turn out all right. If we meet again, I hope to hear all about it. ..."
(I wonder where he went, though... or does it mean he died? But how could he then meet the King of Faery again? There's much in this story that's mysterious to me!)