 interrupted only by private signs to each other, the
Norman knights and nobles beheld the ruder demeanour of Athelstane and Cedric at
a banquet to the form and fashion of which they were unaccustomed. And while
their manners were thus the subject of sarcastic observation, the untaught
Saxons unwittingly transgressed several of the arbitrary rules established for
the regulation of society. Now, it is well known, that a man may with more
impunity be guilty of an actual breach either of real good breeding or of good
morals, than appear ignorant of the most minute point of fashionable etiquette.
Thus Cedric, who dried his hands with a towel, instead of suffering the moisture
to exhale by waving them gracefully in the air, incurred more ridicule than his
companion Athelstane, when he swallowed to his own single share the whole of a
large pasty composed of the most exquisite foreign delicacies, and termed at
that time a Karum-pie. When, however, it was discovered, by a serious
cross-examination, that the Thane of Coningsburgh (or Franklin as the Normans
termed him) had no idea what he had been devouring, and that he had taken the
contents of the Karum-pie for larks and pigeons, whereas they were in fact
beccaficoes and nightingales, his ignorance brought him in for an ample share of
the ridicule which would have been more justly bestowed on his gluttony.
    The long feast had at length its end; and, while the goblet circulated
freely, men talked of the feats of the preceding tournament, - of the unknown
victor in the archery games, of the Black Knight, whose self-denial had induced
him to withdraw from the honours he had won, - and of the gallant Ivanhoe, who
had so dearly bought the honours of the day. The topics were treated with
military frankness, and the jest and laugh went round the hall. The brow of
Prince John alone was overclouded during these discussions; some overpowering
care seemed agitating his mind, and it was only when he received occasional
hints from his attendants, that he seemed to take interest in what was passing
around him. On such occasions he would start up, quaff a cup of wine as if to
raise his spirits, and then mingle in the conversation by some observation made
abruptly or at random.
    »We drink this beaker,« said he, »to the health of Wilfred of Ivanhoe,
champion of this Passage of Arms, and grieve that his wound renders him absent
from our board - Let all fill to the pledge, and especially Cedric of
Rotherwood, the worthy father of a son so promising.«
    »No, my
