TalkBetweenThoseTwoBrethrenRalphaskedHughfirstifhewottedaughtofGregorytheirbrother。
HughlaughedandpointedtoHigham，andsaid：“Heisyonder。”
“What。”saidRalph，“intheAbbot’shost？”“Yea。”saidHugh，laughingagain，“butinhisspiritual，nothisworldlyhost：
heisturnedmonk，brother；thatis，heisalreadyanovice，andwillbeabrotheroftheAbbeyinsixmonths’space。”SaidRalph：
“AndLauncelotLong-tongue，thysquire，howhathhesped？”SaidHugh：
“Heisyonderalso，butintheworldlyhost，notthespiritual：
heisasergeantoftheirs，andsomewhatofacatchforthem，forheisnoillman-at-arms，asthouwottest，andbesidesheadornetheverythingwithwords，sothatmenhearkentohimgladly。”
“Buttellme。”saidRalph，“howitbefalleththattheAbbot’smenofwarbesochurlish，andcharyoftheinsideoftheirtown；
whathavetheytofear？IsnottheLordAbbotstillamightyman？”
Hughshookhishead：“TherehathbeenachangeofdaysatHigham；
thoughIsaynotbutthattheknightsareovercareful，andmuchoverfearful。”“Whathasthechangebeen？”saidRalph。
Hughsaid：“IntimepastmyLordAbbotwasindeedamightyman，andboththistownofHighamwaswellgarnishedofmen-at-arms，andalsomanyofhismanorshadcastlesandstrong-housesonthem，andtheyeomenwerereadytoruntotheirweaponswhensothegatheringwasblown。Inshort，Highamwasasmightyasitwaswealthy；
andtheAbbot’smenhadnaughttodowithany，savewiththyfriendsherewhobeartheTreeLeafless；allelsefearedthoseholywallsandthewell-blessedmenwhowardedthem。ButtheDryTreefeared，asmensaid，neithermannordevil(andIhopeitmaybesostillsincetheyarebecomethyfriends)，andtheywouldwhilesliftintheAbbot’slandswhentheyhadnomerrierbusinessonhand，andnotseldomcametotheiraboveintheirdealingswithhismen。
Butallthingscometoanend；for，asIamtold，someyearandahalfago，theAbbothaddebatewiththeWestlandBarons，whobothwereandareillmentodealwith，beingbothhungryanddoughty。
ThequarrelgrewtillmyLordmustneedsdefythem，andtomakealongtaleshort，hehimselfinworldlyarmourledhishostagainstthem，andtheymetsometwentymilestothewestinthefieldoftheWryBridge，andtherewasHolyChurchoverthrown；andtheAbbot，whoisasvaliantamanaseversangmass，thoughnotover-wiseinwar，wouldnotflee，andasnonewouldslayhim，mighttheyhelpit，theyhadtoleadhimaway，andhesitstothisdayintheirstrongestcastle，theRedMountwest-away。Well，hebeinggone，andmanyofhiswisestwarriorsslain，therestranintogatesagain；
butwhentheWestlandersbesetHighamandthoughttohaveitgoodcheap，themonksandtheirmenwardeditnotsoillbutthattheWestlandersbroketheirteethoverit。Forsooth，theyturnedawaythenceandtookmostofthecastlesandstrong-housesoftheAbbot’slands；
burnedsomeandputgarrisonsintoothers，anddraveawayamightyspoilofchattelsandmenandwomen，sothatthelandsofHighamarehalfruined；andtherebythemonks，thoughtheybestoutenoughwithintheirwalls，willnotsuffertheirmentorideabroad。
Whereby，beingcoopedupinanarrowplace，andwithnodeedstohandtocheertheirheartswithal，theyaregrownsourandchurlish。”
“But，brother。”saidRalph，“howsoeverchurlishtheymaybe，andhowsotimorous，Icannotseewhytheyshouldshuttheirgatesinourfaces，alittleband，whenthereisnofoeanearthem。”
“Ralph。”saidHugh，“thoumustthinkofthisoncemore，thattheDryTreeisnogoodlet-passtoflourishinhonestmen’sfaces；
specialiteriftheybemonks。AmongstthebrothersofHighamthetalegoesthatthoseChampionshavemadecovenantwiththedeviltocometotheirabovewhensoevertheybenotmorethanonetofive。
Nay，moreover，itissaidthattherebeverydevilsamongstthem；
someinthelikenessofcarles，andsome(Godhelpus)
dressedupinwomen’sflesh；andfairfleshalso，meseemeth。
Alsoto-daytheysayinHighamthatnootherwisemighttheyeverhaveovercomethestarkandcruelcarlesoftheBurgoftheFourFrithsandchasedthemoutoftheirtown，asweknowtheyhavedone。
Hah！whatsayestthou？”
“Isay，Hugh。”quothRalphangrily，“thatthouartafooltogoaboutwithabudgetofslanderousoldwives’tales。”Hughlaughed。“Benotsowroth，littlelord，orIshallbeaskingtheetalesofmarvelsalso。Buthearken。
Ishallsmoothoutthyfrownswithasmilewhenthouhastheardthis：
thisfolkarenotonlyafeardoftheiroldenemies，thedevil-ledmen，butalsotheyfearthosewhomthedevil-ledmenhavedrivenoutofhouseandhome，towit，theBurgers。YetagaintheyfeartheBurgersyetmore，becausetheyhavebeatensomeoftheveryfoesofHigham，towit，theWestlandBarons；fortheyhavetakenfromthemsomeoftheirstrong-holds，andaredeemedtobegatheringforce。”
Ralphponderedawhile，andthenhesaid：“Brother，hastthouanytidingsofUpmeads，orthattheseBurgershavegonedownthither？”
“Godforbid！”saidHugh。“Nay，IhavehadnotidingsofUpmeadssinceIwasfoolenoughtoleaveit。”
“What！brother。”saidRalph，“thouhastnotthriventhen？”
“Ihavehadupsanddowns。”saidHugh，“buttheupshavebeenonerungoftheladder，andthedownsthree——ormore。
ThreemonthsIsatinprisonforgettingmeabrokenheadinaquarrelthatconcernedmenot。SixmonthswasIbesiegedinatownwhithernaughtledmebutill-luck。TwodaysIworeinrunningthence，havingscaledthewallandswamtheditchinthenight。
ThreemonthsIservedsquiretoaknightwhogavemethebusinessofwatchinghiswifeofwhomhewasjealous；andtohelpmeoutofthewearinessofhishouseImustneedsmakelovemyselftothesaidwife，whosoothtosaywasperchanceworthit。
ThenceagainIwentbynightandcloud。TenmonthsIworeawayattheedgeofthewildwood，andsometimesinit，withasortoffellowswhotaughtmemanythings，butnothowtokeepmyhandsfromothermen’sgoodswhenIwashungry。
TherewasItakenwithsomefiveothersbycertainsergeantsofHigham，whomthewarriorsofthetownhadsentoutcautiouslytoseeiftheymightcatchafewmenfortheirranks。
Well，theygavemethechoiceofthegallows-treeorservicefortheChurch，andso，mychoicemade，therehaveIbeeneversince，tillIsawthyfacethisevening，fairsir。”
“Well，brother。”saidRalph，“allthatshallbeamended，andthoushaltbacktoUpmeadswithme。Yetwertthoutoamendthyselfsomewhat，itmightnotbeill。”
QuothHugh：“Itshallbetried，brother。ButmayIasktheesomewhat？”
SaidRalph：“Askon。”“FairSir。”saidHugh，“thouseemedstgrownintoaprettymanwhenIsawtheee’en-nowbeforethistwilightmadeusallalike；butthemenatthybackarenotwonttobeledbymenwhohavenotearnedawarrior’sname，yettheyfollowthee：
howcomeththatabout？Again，beforethetwilightgatheredIsawthewomanthatridethanighus(whoisnowbutashadow)howfairandgentlesheis：
indeedthereisnomarvelinherfollowingthee(thoughifshebeanearl’sdaughtersheisafairgettingforanimpofUpmeads)，forthouartawellshapenlad，littlelord，andcarriestasweettongueinthymouth。
Buttellme，whatisshe？”
“Brother。”saidRalphkindly，“sheismywife。”
“Ikissherhands。”saidHugh；“butofwhatlineageisshe？”
“Sheismywife。”saidRalph。SaidHugh：“Thatis，forsooth，ahighdignity。”SaidRalph：“Thousayestsooth，thoughinmockerythouspeakest，whichisscarcekindtothineownmother’sson：
butlearn，brother，thatIambecomeaFriendoftheWell，andweremeettowedwiththedaughtersofthebestoftheKings：
yetisthisonemeetertowedwithmethanthehighestoftheQueens；
forshealsoisaFriendoftheWell。Moreover，thousayestitthatthechampionsoftheDryTree，whowouldthinkbutlittleofanearlforaleader，areeagertofollowme：
andifthoustilldoubtwhatthismaymean，abide，tillintwodaysorthreethouseemebeforethefoeman。ThenshaltthoutellmehowmuchchangedIamfromthestriplingwhomthouknewestinUpmeadsalittlewhileago。”
ThenwasHughsomewhatabashed，andhesaid：“Icravethypardon，brother，butneverhadIawellfiledtongue，andbelikeithathgrownnosmootheramidthehardhapswhichhavebefallenmeoflate。
Besidesitwasdullinthere，andImustneedstrytowinalittlemirthoutofkithandkin。”
“Sobeit，lad。”quothRalphkindly，“thoudidstaskandItold，andallissaid。”
“Yetforsooth。”saidHugh，“thouhastgivenmemarvelformarvel，brother。”
“Evenso。”saidRalph，“andhereafterIwilltelltheemorewhenwesitsafebythewineatUpmeads。”
Nowcomethbackoneofthefore-ridersanddrawethreinbyRalphandsaiththattheyarehardonalittlethorpunderthehangingofthehillthatwasthebeginningoftheDowncountryonthatroad。
SoRalphbademakestaythereandrestthenightover，andseeknewtidingsonthemorrow；andthemantoldRalphthatthefolkofthethorpwerefleeingfastatthetidingsoftheircompany，andthatitwerebestthatheandsomehalfscoreshouldridesharplyintothethorp，sothatitmightnotbequitebareofvictualswhentheycametotheirnight’slodging。
Ralphbidshimsodo，buttoheedwellthathehurtnoman，orletfiregetintoanyhouseorroof；sohetakeshisknotofmenandridesoffonthespur，andRalphandthemainofthemcomeonquietly；
andwhentheycameintothestreetofthethorp，lotherebythecrossabigfirelighted，andtheeldersstandingtherebycapinhand，andascoreofstoutcarleswithweaponsintheirhands。
ThenthechiefmancameuptoRalphandgreetedhimandsaid：
“Lord，whenweheardthatanarmedcompanywasathandwedeemednolessthanthattheridersoftheBurgwereuponus，anddeemedthattherewasnoughtforitbuttofleeeachasfarandasfastashemight。Butnowwehaveheardthatthouartagoodlordseekinghisownwiththehelpofworthychampions，andafoemantothosedevilsoftheBurg，webidtheelookuponusandallwehaveasthine，lord，andtakekindlysuchguestingaswemaygivethee。”
Theoldman’svoicequaveredalittleashelookedonthestarkshapesoftheDryTree；butRalphlookedkindlyonhim，andsaid：
“Yea，mymaster，wewillbutaskforacoveringforourheads，andwhatvictualthoumaysteasilyspareusinreturnforgoodsilver，andthoushalthaveourthankswithal。
Butwhobethesestoutladswithstavesandbucklers，orwhitherwilltheyto-night？”
Thereatatallyoungmanwithaspearinhishandandgirtwithashortswordcameforthandsaidboldly：“Lord，webeafewwhothoughtwhenweheardthattheBurg-devilswereathandthatwemightaswelldieinthefieldgivingstrokeforstroke，asbehauledoffanddroptopiecesunderthehandsoftheirtormentors；
andnowthouhastcome，wehavelittlewilltoabidebehind，butwerefaintofollowthee，anddotheewhatgoodwecan：
andafterthouhastcometothineabove，whenwegobacktoourkinthoumaystgiveusagiftifitpleasethee：
butwedeemthatnogreatmatterifthoubutgiveusleavetohavethecomfortoftheeandthyChampionsforawhileintheseharddays。”
WhenhehaddonespeakingthereroseupfromtheChampionsahumasofpraise，andRalphwaswell-pleasedwithal，deemingitagoodomen；
sohesaid：“Fearnot，goodfellows，thatIshallforgetyouwhenwehaveovercomethefoemen，andmeanwhilewewillliveanddietogether。
Butthou，ancientman，showoursergeantswhereourridersshalllieto-night，andwhattheyshalldowiththeirhorses。”
Sotheeldersmarshalledthelittlehosttotheirabodesforthatnight，lodgingthemorepartoftheminabigbarnonthewesternoutskirtofthethorp。Theelderwholedthemthither，broughtthemvictualandgooddrink，andsaidtothem：
