So she gathered heart; but one thing daunted
her, to wit, that she heard no sound come from that great and goodly
hall, so that she doubted if it were perchance left desert by them
who had been its lords.
She raised her hand to the door of the screen, and it opened easily
before her, and she entered, and there indeed she saw new tidings.
For the boards end-long and over-thwart were set, and thereat were
sitting a many folk, and their hands were reached out to knife and to
dish, and to platter and cup; but such a hush there was within, that
the song of the garden birds without sounded to her as loud as they
were the voices of the children of Adam.
Next she saw that all that company, from the great folk on the dais
down to those who stood about the hall to do the service, were women,
one and all; not one carle might she see from where she stood:
lovely were they many of them, and none less than comely; their
cheeks were bright, and their eyes gleamed, and their hair flowed
down fair of fashion. And she stood, and durst not move a long
while, but expected when someone would speak a word, and all should
turn their heads toward the new-comer.
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