"
Therewith he turned his horse with Richard and Stephen and came
to his own men. There was much laughter and jeering at the Abbot's
men amidst of the Dry Tree, both of those who had ridden with Ralph,
and the new-comers; but they arrayed them to ride further in good order,
and presently were skirting the walls of Higham out of bow-shot,
and making for the Down country by the clear of the moon.
The sergeants had gotten a horse for Hugh, and by Ralph's bidding
he rode beside him as they went their ways, and the two brethren
talked together lovingly.
CHAPTER 21
Talk Between Those Two Brethren
Ralph asked Hugh first if he wotted aught of Gregory their brother.
Hugh laughed and pointed to Higham, and said: "He is yonder."
"What," said Ralph, "in the Abbot's host?" "Yea," said Hugh,
laughing again, "but in his spiritual, not his worldly host:
he is turned monk, brother; that is, he is already a novice,
and will be a brother of the Abbey in six months' space." Said Ralph:
"And Launcelot Long-tongue, thy squire, how hath he sped?" Said Hugh:
"He is yonder also, but in the worldly host, not the spiritual:
he is a sergeant of theirs, and somewhat of a catch for them,
for he is no ill man-at-arms, as thou wottest, and besides he adorneth
everything with words, so that men hearken to him gladly."
"But tell me," said Ralph, "how it befalleth that the Abbot's men
of war be so churlish, and chary of the inside of their town;
what have they to fear? Is not the Lord Abbot still a mighty man?"
Hugh shook his head: "There hath been a change of days at Higham;
though I say not but that the knights are over careful,
and much over fearful.
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