uch now, ye shall
laugh the more on the morrow of to-morrow, as ye draw nearer to the
play of point and edge."

"That is sooth," said one of the upland guests. "So it was seen in
France when we fought there; and the eve of fight was sober and the
morn was merry."

"Yea," said another, "but there, forsooth, it was for nothing ye
fought; and to-morrow it shall be for a fair reward."

"It was for life we fought," said the first.

"Yea," said the second, "for life; and leave to go home and find the
lawyers at their fell game. Ho, Will Green, call a health over the
cup!"

For now Will Green had a bowl of wine in his hand. He stood up and
said: "Here, now, I call a health to the wrights of Kent who be
turning our plough-shares into swords and our pruning-hooks into
spears! Drink around, my masters!"

Then he drank, and his daughter filled the bowl brimming again and he
passed it to me. As I took it I saw that it was of light polished wood
curiously speckled, with a band of silver round it, on which was cut
the legend, "In the name of the Trinity fill the cup and drink to me."
And before I drank, it came upon me to say, "To-morrow, and the fair
days afterwards!"

Then I drank a great draught of the strong red wine, and passed it on;
and every man said something over it, as "The road to London Bridge!"
"Hob Carter and his mate!" and so on, till last of all John Ball drank,
saying:

"Ten years hence, and the freedom of the Fellowship!" Then he said to
Will Green: "Now, Will, must I needs depart to go and wake the dead,
both friend and foe in the church yonder; and whoso of you will be
shriven let him come to me thither in the morn, nor spare for as little
after sunrise as it may be. And this our friend and brother from over
the water of Thames, he hath will to talk with me and I with him; so
now will I take him by the hand: and so God keep you, fellows!"

I rose to meet him as he came round the head of the table, and took his
hand. Will Green turned round to me and said:

"Thou wilt come back again timely, old lad; for betimes on the morrow
must we rise if we shall dine at Rochester."

I stammered as I yea-said him; for John Ball was looking strangely at
me with a half-smile, and my heart beat anxiously and fearfully: but we
went quietly to the door and so out into the bright moonlight.

I lingered a little when we had passed the threshold, and looked back
at the yellow-lighted window and the shapes of