So when the supper was over, and the wine and spices had been brought,
the Guest-hall began to thin somewhat, and the brother who had brought
Ralph thither came to him and said:
"Fair lord, it were nowise ill if ye went forth, as others
of our guests have done, to see the deeds of Midsummer Eve
that shall be done in the great square in honour of Holy John;
for our manner therein at Higham has been much thought of.
Look my son!"
He pointed to the windows of the hall therewith, and lo! they grew
yellow and bright with some fire without, as if a new fiery day
had been born out of the dusk of the summer night; for the light
that shone through the windows out-did the candle-light in the hall.
Ralph started thereat and laid his right hand to the place of his sword,
which indeed he had left with the chamberlain; but the monk laughed
and said: "Fear nothing, lord; there is no foeman in Higham:
come now, lest thou be belated of the show."
So he led Ralph forth, and into the square, where there was a space
appointed for the brethren and their guests to see the plays;
and the square was now so full of folk that it seemed like as if that
there were no one man in the streets which were erewhile so thronged.
There were rows of men-at-arms in bright armour also to keep
the folk in their places, like as hurdles pen the sheep up;
howbeit they were nowise rough with folk, but humble and courteous.
Many and many were the torches and cressets burning steadily
in the calm air, so that, as aforesaid, night was turned into day.
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