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retainers； of the house of Beaumont； for the princely nobles of those days
lived in state little less royal than royalty itself。
Most of the knights and gentlemen Myles soon came to know by sight；
meeting them in Lord George's apartments in the south wing of the great
house； and some of them； following the lead of Lord George； singled him
out for friendly notice； giving him a nod or a word in passing。
Every season has its pleasures for boys； and the constant change that
they bring is one of the greatest delights of boyhood's days。
All of us； as we grow older； have in our memory pictures of by…gone
times that are somehow more than usually vivid； the colors of some not
blurring by time as others do。 One of which； in remembering； always filled
Myles's heart in after…years with an indefinable pleasure； was the
recollection of standing with others of his fellow squires in the crisp
brown autumn grass of the paddock； and shooting with the long…bow at
wildfowl； which； when the east wind was straining； flew low overhead to
pitch to the lake in the forbidden precincts of the deer park beyond the
brow of the hill。 More than once a brace or two of these wildfowl； shot in
their southward flight by the lads and cooked by fat； good…natured Mother
Joan； graced the rude mess…table of the squires in the long hall； and even
the toughest and fishiest drake； so the fruit of their skill； had a savor that；
somehow or other； the daintiest fare lacked in after…years。
Then fall passed and winter came； bleak； cold； and drearynot winter
as we know it nowadays； with warm fires and bright lights to make the
long nights sweet and cheerful with comfort； but winter with all its
grimness and sternness。 In the great cold stone…walled castles of those
days the only fire and almost the only light were those from the huge
blazing logs that roared and crackled in the great open stone fireplace；
around which the folks gathered； sheltering their faces as best they could
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from the scorching heat； and cloaking their shoulders from the biting cold；
for at the farther end of the room； where giant shadows swayed and bowed
and danced huge and black against the high walls； the white frost glistened
in the moonlight on the stone pavements； and the breath went up like
smoke。
In those days were no books to read； but at the best only rude stories
and jests； recited by some strolling mummer or minstrel to the listening
circle； gathered around the blaze and welcoming the coarse； gross jests；
and coarser； grosser songs with roars of boisterous laughter。
Yet bleak and dreary as was the winter in those days； and cold and
biting as was the frost in the cheerless； windy halls and corridors of the
castle； it was not without its joys to the young lads； for then； as now； boys
could find pleasure even in slushy weather； when the sodden snow is fit
for nothing but to make snowballs of。
Thrice that bitter winter the moat was frozen over； and the lads；
making themselves skates of marrow…bones； which they bought from the
hall cook at a groat a pair； went skimming over the smooth surface； red…
checked and shouting； while the crows and the jackdaws looked down at
them from the top of the bleak gray walls。
Then at Yule…tide； which was somewhat of a rude semblance to the
Merry Christmas season of our day； a great feast was held in the hall； and
all the castle folk were fed in the presence of the Earl and the Countess。
Oxen and sheep were roasted whole； huge suet puddings； made of barley
meal sweetened with honey and stuffed with plums； were boiled in great
caldrons in the open courtyard； whole barrels of ale and malmsey were
broached； and all the folk； gentle and simple； were bidden to the feast。
Afterwards the minstrels danced and played a rude play； and in the
evening a miracle show was performed on a raised platform in the north
hall。
For a week afterwards the castle was fed upon the remains of the good
things left from that great feast； until everyone grew to loathe fine victuals；
and longed for honest beef and mustard again。
Then at last in that constant change the winter was gone； and even the
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lads who had enjoyed its passing were glad when the winds blew warm
once more； and the grass showed green in sunny places； and the leader of
the wild…fowl blew his horn； as they who in the fall had flown to the south
flew； arrow…like； northward again； when the buds swelled and the leaves
burst forth once more； and crocuses and then daffodils gleamed in the
green grass； like sparks and flames of gold。
With the spring came the out…door sports of the season； among others
that of ballfor boys were boys； and played at ball even in those faraway
daysa game called trap…ball。 Even yet in some parts of England it is
played just as it was in Myles Falworth's day； and enjoyed just as Myles
and his friends enjoyed it。
So now that the sun was warm and the weather pleasant the game of
trap…ball was in full swing every afternoon； the play…ground being an open
space between the wall that surrounded the castle grounds and that of the
privy gardenthe pleasance in which the ladies of the Earl's family took
the air every day； and upon which their apartments opened。
Now one fine breezy afternoon； when the lads were shouting and
playing at this； then their favorite game； Myles himself was at the trap
barehanded and barearmed。 The wind was blowing from behind him； and；
aided perhaps by it； he had already struck three of four balls nearly the
whole length of the courtan unusual distance and several of the lads
had gone back almost as far as the wall of the privy garden to catch any
ball that might chance to fly as far as that。 Then once more Myles struck；
throwing all his strength into the blow。 The ball shot up into the air； and
when it fell； it was to drop within the privy garden。
The shouts of the young players were instantly stilled； and Gascoyne；
who stood nearest Myles； thrust his hands into his belt； giving a long shrill
whistle。
〃This time thou hast struck us all out； Myles；〃 said he。 〃There be no
more play for us until we get another ball。〃
The outfielders came slowly trooping in until they had gathered in a
little circle around Myles。
〃I could not help it；〃 said Myles； in answer to their grumbling。 〃How
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knew I the ball would fly so far？ But if I ha' lost the ball； I can get it again。
I will climb the wall for it。〃
〃Thou shalt do naught of the kind； Myles；〃 said Gascoyne； hastily。
〃Thou art as mad as a March hare to think of such a venture！ Wouldst get
thyself shot with a bolt betwixt the ribs； like poor Diccon Cook？〃
Of all places about the castle the privy garden was perhaps the most
sacred。 It was a small plot of ground； only a few rods long and wide； and
was kept absolutely private for the use of the Countess and her family。
Only a little while before Myles had first come to Devlen； one of the
cook's men had been found climbing the wall； whereupon the soldier who
saw him shot him with his cross bow。 The poor fellow dropped from the
wall into the garden； and when they found him； he still held a bunch of
flowers in his hand； which he had perhaps been gathering for his
sweetheart。
Had Myles seen him carried on a litter to the infirmary as Gascoyne
and some of the others had done； he might have thought twice before
venturing to enter the ladies' private garden。 As it was； he only shook his
stubborn head； and said again； 〃I will climb the wall and fetch it。〃
Now at the lower extremity of the court； and about twelve or fifteen
feet distant from the garden wall； there grew a pear…tree； some of the
branches of which overhung into the garden beyond。 So； first making sure
that no one was look