“He is promising that the rainbow shall be a sign from heaven that the earth shall never more be drowned,” said Master Gyseburn. “It’s all over now. Look!—the men are dragging the pageant away to the next halting-place.”
“And now it’s Abraham and Isaac!” said Margery joyfully.
VI
The Story of Abraham and of Isaac
Both the children looked anxiously in the direction from which all the pageants coming from the gates of the Priory, approached the market-place.
“It isn’t in sight yet!” said Colin in surprise, for hitherto one pageant had followed swiftly upon another.
“Oh! but here’s a man on horseback, dressed splendidly!” Margery cried. “What is he going to do?”
“He’s part of the play,” Master Gyseburn explained. “He is a messenger who is going to tell us what it’s all about.”
By this time the rider, who came from a side-street, was clattering over the stones of the market-place. Just beneath the window he drew up his horse, and, raising his plumed cap, began in these words to address the multitude:
“All peace, Lordings, that be present,
And hearken now with good intent