When the Saracen lay gasping for breath (very naturally, the victor having placed his foot upon his breast) the saint somewhat awkwardly expressed sorrow for his deed and sighed for a doctor.  There was a burst of laughter and applause as Ralph the bowyer, the comedian of the company, came limping in, got up in the character of an old quack who had physicked half the spectators.  He bled and bandaged and salved and dosed the fallen warrior, keeping up a running fire of remarks the while, until the wounded man arose and went prancing off as good as new.  There was no dragon, but Giles the miller appeared as Beelzebub to avenge the defeat of the paynim, and was routed in fine style.  At the end a company of waits sang carols while the performers got their breath and repaired damages.  The cream of the comedy, to the friends of the wicked Madelon, lay in the fact that she had the day before given her promise to Ralph, binding him to say naught to his rivals until the mumming was safely over.

While the players were drinking the health of their lord in his own good brew, the horn sounded at the gate, and the old porter, who had been watching the mummery, elbowed his way out with some grumbling to see who could be there.  In a few minutes a tall man entered the hall, wearing the garb of a Palmer or pilgrim from the Holy Land—­a long cloak with a cape and a hood that shadowed the face, a staff, a scrip and sandals.  At sight of him a surprised hush fell upon the company.  The common folk drew apart to let him pass, not quite sure but this was a new figure in the play.  But Sir Walter Giffard rose to his feet after one swift glance at the newcomer, and as the latter threw back his cowl, the host quickly advanced to embrace him, crying, “Stephen!  We feared that you were dead!”

Lady Philippa came forward also, with shining eyes and parted lips, beckoning to the children to join in the welcome of the stranger.  Eleanor scarcely remembered this uncle of hers, whom she had not seen since leaving Normandy.  His eyes were so sad that she felt very sorry for him, but his smile was so kind that no one could help loving him.  He reminded her of Saint Christopher, who had always been a favorite of hers because he kept away bad dreams.

Stephen Giffard had been ransomed by John de Matha, the Provencal monk who had given himself to the work of rescuing and befriending prisoners.  Hearing from his rescuers that Lady Adelicia, his wife, had gone with rich gifts to the Holy Land in the hope that her prayers might bring him home, he took ship to Jaffa and there learned that she had died in Jerusalem.  Now he had settled his affairs and come in the guise of a pilgrim to spend the Christmas season with his kinfolk in England.