? Or wilt thou run from me without leave-taking, as
thou didst ere-while at Goldburg?"

Ralph laughed at his word, and said that he would not be so churlish
this time, but would take his bidding with a good heart; and thereafter
they fell to talking of many things. But Ralph took note of Bull, that
now his hair and beard were trim and his raiment goodly, for all his
rough speech and his laughter and heart-whole gibes and mocking, his
aspect and bearing was noble and knightly.

CHAPTER 4

A Feast in the Red Pavilion

So in a while they went with him to the Tower, and there was woman's
raiment of the best gotten for Ursula, and afterwards at nightfall they
went to the feast in the Red Pavillion of Utterbol, which awhile ago
the now-slain Lord of Utterbol had let make; and it was exceeding rich
with broidery of pearl and gems: since forsooth gems and fair women
were what the late lord had lusted for the most, and have them he would
at the price of howsoever many tears and groans. But that pavilion was
yet in all wise as it was wont to be, saving that the Bull had
supplanted the Bear upon the Castle-wall.

Now the wayfarers were treated with all honour and were set upon the
high-seat, Ralph upon the right-hand of the Lord, and Ursula upon his
left, and the Sage of Swevenham out from her. But on Ralph's right
hand was at first a void place, whereto after a while came Otter, the
old Captain of the Guard. He came in hastily, and as though he had but
just taken his armour off: for his raiment was but such as the
men-at-arm of that country were wont to wear under their war-gear, and
was somewhat stained and worn; whereas the other knights and lords were
arrayed grandly in silks and fine cloth embroidered and begemmed.

Otter was fain when he saw Ralph, and kissed and embraced him, and
said: "Forsooth, I saw by thy face, lad, that the world would be soft
before thee; and now that I behold thee I know already that thou hast
won thy quest; and the Gods only know to what honour thou shalt attain."

Ralph laughed for joy of him, and yet said soberly: "As to honour,
meseems I covet little world's goods, save that it may be well with my
folk at home." Nevertheless as the words were out of his mouth his
thought went back to the tall man whom he had first met at the
churchyard gate of Netherton, and it seemed to him that he wished his
thriving, yea, and in a lesser way, he wished the same to Roger of the
Rope-walk, wh