Now were folk gathered in the hall, and the Earl Geoffrey wasstanding on the dais by the high-seat, and beside him a worthy clerk, theAbbot of Meadhamstead, a monk of St. Benedict, and next to him theBurgreve of Greenharbour, and then a score of knights all in brave raiment,and squires withal, and sergeants; but down in the hall were the men- at-arms and serving-men, and a half hundred of folk of the countryside,queans as well as carles, who had been gathered for the show and biddenin. No other women were there in the hall till Goldilind and her serving-women entered. She went straight up the hall, and took her place in thehigh-seat; and for all that her eyes seemed steady, she had notedChristopher standing by the shot-window just below the dais.
Now when she was set down, and there was silence in the hall, EarlGeoffrey came forth and said: "Lords and knights, and ye good people,the Lady Goldilind, daughter of the Lord King Roland that last was, isnow of age to wed; and be it known unto you, that the King, her father,bade me, in the last words by him spoken, to wed her to none but theloveliest and strongest that might be, as witness I can bring hereto. Nowsuch a man have I sought hereto in Meadhamstead and the much-peopledland of Meadham, and none have I come on, however worthy he were ofdeeds, or well-born of lineage, but that I doubted me if he were so fair orso doughty as might be found; but here in this half- desert corner of theland have I gotten a man than whom none is doughtier, as some of youhave found to your cost. And tell me all you, where have ye seen any asfair as this man?" And therewith he made a sign with his hand, and forthstrode Christopher up on to the dais; and he was so clad, that his kirtle wasof white samite, girt with a girdle of goldsmith's work, whereby hung agood sword of like fashion, and over his shoulders was a mantle of redcloth-of-gold, furred with ermine, and lined with green sendall; and on hisgolden curled locks sat a chaplet of pearls.
Then to the lords and all the people he seemed so fair and fearless and kind that they gave a great shout of welcome; and Goldilind came forthfrom her chair, as fair as a June lily, and came to Christopher and reachedout her hand to him, but he refrained him a moment, so that all they couldsee how sweet and lovely a hand it was, and then he took it, and drew herto him, and kissed her mouth before them all; and still he held her hand,till the Abbot of Meadhamstead aforetold came and stood by them andblessed them.
Then spake the Earl again: "Lo ye, here hath been due betrothal ofthese twain, and ye may see how meet they be for each other in goodlinessand kindness. Now there lacketh nought but they should be weddedstraightway; and all is arrayed in the chapel; wherefore if this holy manwill come with us and do on his mass-hackle, our joy shall be fulfilled;save that thereafter shall feast and merriment await all you in this hall, andwe shall be there to welcome all comers in this house of Greenharbour,whereas this our gracious Lady has long abided so happily."