mpletely encircled. The whole circle was hung round with one
continuous garland of flowers, depending in irregular festoons from the
branches. In the centre of the green was a May-pole hidden in boughs
and garlands; and a multitude of round-faced bumpkins and cherry-checked
lasses were dancing around it, to the quadruple melody of Scrapesqueak,
Whistlerap, Trumtwang, and Muggledrone: harmony we must not call it;
for, though they had agreed to a partnership in point of tune, each,
like a true painstaking man, seemed determined to have his time to
himself: Muggledrone played allegretto, Trumtwang allegro, Whistlerap
presto, and Scrapesqueak prestissimo. There was a kind of mathematical
proportion in their discrepancy: while Muggledrone played the tune four
times, Trumtwang played it five, Whistlerap six, and Scrapesqueak eight;
for the latter completely distanced all his competitors, and indeed
worked his elbow so nimbly that its outline was scarcely distinguishable
through the mistiness of its rapid vibration.

While the knight was delighting his eyes and ears with these pleasant
sights and sounds, all eyes were turned in one direction; and Sir Ralph,
looking round, saw a fair lady in green and gold come riding through the
trees, accompanied by a portly friar in grey, and several fair damsels
and gallant grooms. On their nearer approach, he recognised the lady
Matilda and her ghostly adviser, brother Michael. A party of foresters
arrived from another direction, and then ensued cordial interchanges of
greeting, and collisions of hands and lips, among the Gamwells and the
new-comers,--"How does my fair coz, Mawd?" and "How does my sweet coz,
Mawd?" and "How does my wild coz, Mawd?" And "Eh! jolly friar, your
hand, old boy:" and "Here, honest friar:" and "To me, merry friar:" and
"By your favour, mistress Alice:" and "Hey! cousin Robin:" and "Hey!
cousin Will:" and "Od's life! merry Sir Guy, you grow younger every
year,"--as the old knight shook them all in turn with one hand, and
slapped them on the back with the other, in token of his affection. A
number of young men and women advanced, some drawing, and others dancing
round, a floral car; and having placed a crown of flowers on Matilda's
head, they saluted her Queen of the May, and drew her to the place
appointed for the rural sports.

A hogshead of ale was abroach under an oak, and a fire was blazing in
an open space before the trees to roast the fat deer which the fore