and drink a cup, and sleep in a fair chamber thereafter?"

"Nay, sir," said Ralph, "for time presses;" and he passed on withal,
and the knight made no step to stay him, but laughed a short laugh,
like a swine snorting, and sat him down on the grass again.
Ralph heeded him naught, but was glad that his let-pass was shown
to be good for something; but he could see that the minstrel
was nigh sick for fear and was shaking like an aspen leaf,
and it was long ere he found his tongue again.

Forth then they rode till dusk, when the minstrel stayed Ralph at a place
where a sort of hovels lay together about a house somewhat better builded,
which Ralph took for a hostelry, though it had no sign nor bush.
They entered the said house, wherein was an old woman to whom the minstrel
spake a word or two in a tongue that Ralph knew not, and straightway she
got them victual and drink nowise ill, and showed them to beds thereafter.

In spite of both victuals and drink the minstrel fell silent and moody;
it might be from weariness, Ralph deemed; and he himself had no great lust
for talk, so he went bedward, and made the bed pay for all.



CHAPTER 32

Ralph Happens on Evil Days


Early on the morrow they departed, and now in the morning light
and the sun the minstrel seemed glad again, and talked abundantly,