which he crossed thrice, once by a goodly stone bridge and twice by fords;
for the road was straight, and the river wound about much.

After a little while the road led him off the plain meads into
a country of little hills and dales, the hill-sides covered with
vineyards and orchards, and the dales plenteous of corn-fields;
and now amongst these dales Higham was hidden from him.

Through this tillage and vine-land he rode a good while, and thought
he had never seen a goodlier land; and as he went he came on
husbandmen and women of the country going about their business:
yet were they not too busy to gaze on him, and most greeted him;
and with some he gave and took a little speech.

These people also he deemed well before the world, for they
were well clad and buxom, and made no great haste as they went,
but looked about them as though they deemed the world worth
looking at, and as if they had no fear either of a blow or a hard
word for loitering.

So he rode till it was noon, and he was amidst a little thorp of grey
stone houses, trim enough, in a valley wherein there was more of
wild-wood trees and less of fruit-bearers than those behind him.
In the thorp was a tavern with the sign of the Nicholas, so Ralph
deemed it but right to enter a house which was under the guard
of his master and friend; therefore he lighted down and went in.
Therein he found a lad of fifteen winters, and a maiden spinning,
they two alone, who hailed him and asked his pleasure, and he bade
them bring him meat and drink, and look to his horse, for that he had
a mind to rest a while. So they brought him bread and flesh, and good