"A house then, or a cottage, where I may obtain hospitality for the night?"

"Hospitality!" said one of the young women; "you have not far to seek
for that. Do you not know that you are in the neighbourhood of Gamwell-Hall?"

"So far from it," said the knight, "that I never heard the name
of Gamwell-Hall before."

"Never heard of Gamwell-Hall?" exclaimed all the young women together,
who could as soon have dreamed of his never having heard of the sky.

"Indeed, no," said Sir Ralph; "but I shall be very happy to get
rid of my ignorance."

"And so shall I," said his squire; "for it seems that in this
case knowledge will for once be a cure for hunger, wherewith I
am grievously afflicted."

"And why are you so busy, my pretty damsels, weaving these garlands?"
said the knight.

"Why, do you not know, sir," said one of the young women,
"that to-morrow is Gamwell feast?"

The knight was again obliged, with all humility, to confess his ignorance.

"Oh! sir," said his informant, "then you will have something to see,
that I can tell you; for we shall choose a Queen of the May, and we
shall crown her with flowers, and place her in a chariot of flowers,