l? Ay, thou hast not caught the contagion
yet! Now ye gods forefend! If thou hast the chance, thou'lt have it
strong."

Therewith the Archbishop, in his purple robes, appeared in the archway
at the other end of the hall, the King joined him, and still followed by
the jester, they both vanished. It was presently made known that the
King was about to dine there, and that all were to sit down to eat. The
King dined alone with the Archbishop as his host; the two noblemen who
had formed his suite joined the first table in the higher hall; the
knights that of the steward of the household, who was of knightly
degree, and with whom the superior clergy of the household ate; and the
grooms found their places among the vast array of yeomen and serving-men
of all kinds with whom Tibble and his two young companions had to eat.
A week ago, Stephen would have contemned the idea of being classed with
serving-men and grooms, but by this time he was quite bewildered, and
anxious enough to be thankful to keep near a familiar face on any terms,
and to feel as if Tibble were an old friend, though he had only known
him for five days.

Why the King had come had not transpired, but there was a whisper that
despatches from Scotland were concerned in it. The meal was a lengthy
one, but at last the King's horses were ordered, and presently Henry
came forth, with his arm familiarly linked in that of the Archbishop,
whose horse had likewise been made ready that he might accompany the
King back to Westminster. The jester was close at hand, and as a
parting shaft he observed, while the King mounted his horse, "Friend
Hal! give my brotherly commendations to our Madge, and tell her that one
who weds Anguish cannot choose but cry out."

Wherewith, affecting to expect a stroke from the King's whip, he doubled
himself up, performed the contortion now called turning a coachwheel,
then, recovering himself, put his hands on his hips and danced wildly on
the steps; while Henry, shaking his whip at him, laughed at the only too
obvious pun, for Anguish was the English version of Angus, the title of
Queen Margaret's second husband, and it was her complaints that had
brought him to his counsellor.

The jester then, much to the annoyance of the two boys, thought proper
to follow them to the office of the comptroller, and as that dignitary
read out from his books the name of every Henry, and of all the
varieties of Ralf and Randolf among the hundred and