But that pavilion was yet
in all wise as it was wont to be, saving that the Bull had
supplanted the Bear upon the Castle-wall.
Now the wayfarers were treated with all honour and were set
upon the high-seat, Ralph upon the right-hand of the Lord,
and Ursula upon his left, and the Sage of Swevenham out from her.
But on Ralph's right hand was at first a void place,
whereto after a while came Otter, the old Captain of the Guard.
He came in hastily, and as though he had but just taken his armour off:
for his raiment was but such as the men-at-arm of that country were
wont to wear under their war-gear, and was somewhat stained and worn;
whereas the other knights and lords were arrayed grandly in silks
and fine cloth embroidered and begemmed.
Otter was fain when he saw Ralph, and kissed and embraced him, and said:
"Forsooth, I saw by thy face, lad, that the world would be soft before thee;
and now that I behold thee I know already that thou hast won thy quest;
and the Gods only know to what honour thou shalt attain."
Ralph laughed for joy of him, and yet said soberly: "As to honour, meseems I
covet little world's goods, save that it may be well with my folk at home."
Nevertheless as the words were out of his mouth his thought went back
to the tall man whom he had first met at the churchyard gate of Netherton,
and it seemed to him that he wished his thriving, yea, and in a lesser way,
he wished the same to Roger of the Rope-walk, whereas he deemed that both
of these, each in his own way, had been true to the lady whom he had lost.
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