A challenge was thrown out by Thrugg’s sister Thrugann: which of them could eat a bowl of the shrimp and bulrush soup with the most hotroot pepper in it. Thrugg threw a pawful in his bowl and started spooning it down. Thrugann promptly put two pawfuls into her soup and went at it with her eyes streaming. Not to be outdone, Thrugg added a full ladle of the pepper to his, whereupon Thrugann tipped the full peppersack over the top of her bowl. With tears gushing from their reddened eyes, both otters spooned away bravely until the Abbess called out, “I declare a draw, the winners, Thrugg and Thrugann!”

Both otters bolted from the table and immersed their heads in an open cask of old cider. Amid the laughter from the tables, the sound of Thrugg and Thrugann sucking in massive drafts of cider to cool their burning mouths could be heard all over the orchard.

Brother Hollyberry tipped both the bowls into his own and spooned the lot down without turning a hair, his only comment being, “Hmm, this soup could do with a little more pepper. I like it good and spicy!”

Friar Bellows sat back and loosened off his waistcord. “Phew, very good, very good! I don’t know which is the hardest, preparing it all or trying to eat it all. Pass me a maplecream tart, will you, Brother Hal.”

The Brother broke open an oatloaf stuffed with summer salad. “Tut tut, not beginning to flag, are you, Bellows?”

The good Friar sat up straight and quaffed a beaker of mint tea. The maplecream tart disappeared rapidly, even though it was a large plate-sized one.

“Beginning to flag? Listen, my goodmouse, flagging is for young fellers like yourself. I’m one who knows how to keep up a steady pace. Cut me a wedge of that Great Hall cake, please.”

Toward the bottom of the table several baby mice and young hedgehogs had secreted a sizable fruit and cream trifle under the table. They sat on the ground, eating it with their paws, out of the sight of older creatures who insisted on them using spoons, and there was trifle everywhere.

“Mmm, ’s better wivvout spoons!”

“Heehee, I c’n eat it wiv all four paws. Lookit me!”

*   *   *

By noon most creatures had deserted the festive board and were lying beneath trees and bushes all over the orchard. Dumble and the rest of the infants were snoring loudly in a hammock that Sister Nasturtium had strung between two apple trees. Samkim and Arula joined Brother Hollyberry and Friar Bellows in the shade of a big old maple that grew in the south corner, and Hollyberry yawned and stretched as he settled down to his nap. “Well, Samkim, how are the two stoats enjoying Nameday?”