Ralph saw that there were many folk therein, though it was too big
to be thronged thick with them. Amidst of it was now a great pile
of wood hung about with flowers, and hard by it a stage built up
with hangings of rich cloth on one side thereof. He asked the monk
what this might mean, and he told him the wood was for the Midsummer
bale-fire, and the stage for the show that should come thereafter.
So the brother led Ralph down a lane to the south of the great west door,
and along the side of the minster and so came to the Abbey gate,
and there was Ralph well greeted, and had all things given him which
were due to a good knight; and then was he brought into the Guest-hall,
a very fair chamber, which was now full of men of all degrees.
He was shown to a seat on the dais within two of the subprior's,
and beside him sat an honourable lord, a vassal of St. Mary's. So was
supper served well and abundantly: the meat and drink was of the best,
and the vessel and all the plenishing was as good as might be;
and the walls of that chamber were hung with noble arras-cloth
picturing the Pilgrimage of the Soul of Man.

Every man there who spoke with Ralph, and they were many, was exceeding
courteous to him; and he heard much talk about him of the wealth
of the lands of St. Mary's at Higham, and how it was flourishing;
and of the Abbot how mighty he was, so that he might do what he would,
and that his will was to help and to give, and be blithe with all men:
and folk told of turmoil and war in other lands, and praised
the peace of Higham-on-the-Way.

Ralph listened to all this, and smiled, and said to himself that to
another man this might well be the end of his journey for that time;
but for him all this peace and well-being was not enough; for though it
were a richer land than Upmeads, yet to the peace and the quiet he was