seize on it during the earl's
absence. The baron inferred from this that the earl's case was
desperate; and those who have had the opportunity of seeing a rich
friend fall suddenly into poverty, may easily judge by their own
feelings how quickly and completely the whole moral being of the earl
was changed in the baron's estimation. The baron immediately proceeded
to require in his daughter's mind the same summary revolution that had
taken place in his own, and considered himself exceedingly ill-used by
her non-compliance. The lady had retired to her chamber, and the
baron had passed a supperless and sleepless night, stalking about his
apartments till an advanced hour of the morning, when hunger compelled
him to summon into his presence the spoils of the buttery, which, being
the intended array of an uneaten wedding feast, were more than usually
abundant, and on which, when the knight and the friar entered, he was
falling with desperate valour. He looked up at them fiercely, with his
mouth full of beef and his eyes full of flame, and rising, as ceremony
required, made an awful bow to the knight, inclining himself forward
over the table and presenting his carving-knife en militaire, in a
manner that seemed to leave it doubtful whether he meant to show respect
to his visitor, or to defend his provision: but the doubt was soon
cleared up by his politely motioning the knight to be seated; on which
the friar advanced to the table, saying, "For what we are going to
receive," and commenced operations without further prelude by filling
and drinking a goblet of wine. The baron at the same time offered one
to Sir Ralph, with the look of a man in whom habitual hospitality and
courtesy were struggling with the ebullitions of natural anger. They
pledged each other in silence, and the baron, having completed a copious
draught, continued working his lips and his throat, as if trying to
swallow his wrath as he had done his wine. Sir Ralph, not knowing well
what to make of these ambiguous signs, looked for instructions to the
friar, who by significant looks and gestures seemed to advise him to
follow his example and partake of the good cheer before him, without
speaking till the baron should be more intelligible in his demeanour.
The knight and the friar, accordingly, proceeded to refect themselves
after their ride; the baron looking first at the one and then at the
other, scrutinising alternately the serious looks of the knight and
the