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Updated: May 16, 2025
And thou didst promise him upon thine honor to obey me. Thou mayest not break thy pledged word." "I had not pledged it," rejoined Josceline, sulkily, "had I known of wanderings through forest and wild." "Better forest and wild than the king's dungeon, my son," replied Lady De Aldithely. "We go hence to-morrow night." During this conversation Hugo had stood a silent and unwilling listener.
"And though that I cannot tell, yet this I know, thou art the equal of any De Aldithely." And then Hugo's eyes fell upon him, and they filled with a most kindly light. Meanwhile the motley crowd that had started in pursuit from the White Horse had become appreciably thinned upon the road. For one was no rider, and was promptly pitched over his horse's head.
Josceline now turned to him. "And whither goest thou, Hugo?" he asked. "With us?" "Nay, let me speak," said Lady De Aldithely, holding up her hand to check Hugo's reply. "Hugo goeth south toward London clad in thy bravery, and with Humphrey to attend him." Again Josceline showed astonishment. "I understand not thy riddles," he said at last petulantly.
"De Aldithely, sayest thou?" interrupted the man-at-arms. "Ay, and he is resolved the son shall not live, no more than his own nephew Arthur." "And he will put him to death?" asked the man-at-arms. "Why, not speedily," answered Walter Skinner, importantly, "but cat and mouse fashion, by which he will be the longer dying, and his father the more tormented.
To-night weary Hugo had forgotten that Humphrey was his servant, and, as such, bound to obey him. He felt himself nothing but a tired and homesick boy, and was glad himself to obey the faithful Saxon, while he thought regretfully of his uncle the prior, Lady De Aldithely, Josceline, and the valiant William Lorimer.
Cross thou to France, I charge thee, and take this favor to my husband. Tell him, because thou wouldst do knightly service for me and mine, I give it thee. Thou wilt not go unrewarded." And she held out a knot of blue ribbon. The boy looked from it to her green robe, and back again. Lady De Aldithely saw the look. "Green is not my color, Hugo," she said. "It is but the fashion of the time."
"The Normans rule, and honest men must skulk and hide," observed Humphrey, with some bitterness. "Lord De Aldithely is a Norman," remarked Hugo. "So also am I." "Ay," rejoined Humphrey, "but all Normans are not alike bad. Thou art not the king, moreover, nor is my lord, who is an honest man and standeth bravely by the people, and is opposed to murder and robbery.
Humphrey did as he was requested, and was amply rewarded by the appreciation of his listener. "I see thou art worth a troop, my good Humphrey," he said, when the serving-man had finished. "Lady De Aldithely did well to trust thee with this lad. But now to my news once more.
Meanwhile Lady De Aldithely had gone to the castle hall, when she sent a summons to William Lorimer to attend her there. To him, when he arrived, she unfolded Robert Sadler's treachery and her own meditated flight with her son. "Thee," she said, "I leave in charge of these bare walls to deal with Robert Sadler on his return. Whatever happeneth I hold thee blameless.
Speak rather of the dove leading the hawk a merry chase." "Even so I will lead them," declared Hugo. "If they catch me, they shall do well." Lady De Aldithely smiled at the boyish presumption. "My poor lad!" she said. "How if they catch thee with an arrow as they caught Fleetfoot? Thou mightest find no castle then to give thee shelter, no leech to salve thy wound."
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