The dresses and appointments of the pageant having been provided by Sir Ralph Assheton, who, Puritan as he was, encouraged all harmless country pastimes, it was deemed necessary to pay him every respect, even if no other feeling would have prompted the attention, and therefore the troop had stopped on seeing him and his guests issue from the Abbey gate.

At pretty nearly the same time Doctor Ormerod and his party came from the vicarage towards the green.
No order of march was observed, but Sir Ralph and his lady, with two of his children by the former marriage, walked first.

Then came some of the other ladies, with the Rector of Middleton, John Braddyll, and the two sons of Mistress Robinson.

Next came Mistress Nutter, Roger Nowell and Potts walking after her, eyeing her maliciously, as her proud figure swept on before them.

Even if she saw their looks or overheard their jeers, she did not deign to notice them.