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I have ever said that a brave lance should wed her; and, by my soul! Edricson, if God spare you, I think that you will acquit yourself well. But enough of such trifles, for we have our work before us, and it will be time to speak of this matter when we see the white cliffs of England once more. Go to Sir William Felton, I pray you, and ask him to come hither, for it is time that we were marching.
"I have wife and child at Emery Down," quoth he; "I would not leave them for such a venture." "You, then, young sir?" asked the archer. "Nay, I am a man of peace," said Alleyne Edricson. "Besides, I have other work to do." "Peste!" growled the soldier, striking his flagon on the board until the dishes danced again. "What, in the name of the devil, hath come over the folk?
Alleyne Edricson, I would have a word with you, for I would fain that you should take service under me. And here in good time comes my lady, without whose counsel it is not my wont to decide aught of import; but, indeed, it was her own thought that you should come." "For I have formed a good opinion of you, and can see that you are one who may be trusted," said the Lady Loring.
"You have both won honor from this meeting, and it would be sin and shame to let it go further." "You have done enough, Edricson," said Norbury. "You have carried yourself well," cried several of the older squires. "For my part, I have no wish to slay this young man," said Tranter, wiping his heated brow. "Does this gentleman crave my pardon for having used me despitefully?" asked Alleyne.
Twenty men-at-arms, too, well mounted and equipped, formed the cavalry of the party, while young Peter Terlake of Fareham, and Walter Ford of Botley, the martial sons of martial sires, came at their own cost to wait upon Sir Nigel and to share with Alleyne Edricson the duties of his squireship. Yet, even after the enrolment, there was much to be done ere the party could proceed upon its way.
So saying, the prince turned his back upon the King of Spain, and springing upon his horse, rode slowly homewards to the Abbey of Saint Andrew's. On the morning after the jousting, when Alleyne Edricson went, as was his custom, into his master's chamber to wait upon him in his dressing and to curl his hair, he found him already up and very busily at work.
For me, I have played the old game of war since ever I had hair on my chin, and I have seen ten thousand brave men in one day with their faces to the sky, but I swear by Him who made me that I cannot abide the work of the butcher." "And yet, my fair lord," said Edricson, "there has, from what I hear, been much of such devil's work in France." "Too much, too much," he answered.
While she busied herself in finding and folding them, Alleyne Edricson stood by the open door looking in at her with much interest and some distrust, for he had never been so nigh to a woman before. She had round red arms, a dress of some sober woollen stuff, and a brass brooch the size of a cheese-cake stuck in the front of it. "Peter the fuller!" she kept repeating.
This day, however, he had been sombre and mute, with scarce a word a mile to bestow upon his comrade. "Tell me Alleyne Edricson," he broke out, suddenly, as they clattered along the winding track which leads over the Bournemouth hills, "has it not seemed to you that of late the Lady Maude is paler and more silent than is her wont?" "It may be so," the other answered shortly.
Alleyne Edricson bent his head while the Abbot poured out his heartfelt supplication that Heaven would watch over this young soul, now going forth into the darkness and danger of the world. It was no mere form for either of them. To them the outside life of mankind did indeed seem to be one of violence and of sin, beset with physical and still more with spiritual danger.
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