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bewilderment and trepidation； hardly knew。
As was said before； the livery was the last meal of the day； and was
taken in bed。 It was a simple repasta manchette； or small loaf of bread of
pure white flour； a loaf of household bread； sometimes a lump of cheese；
and either a great flagon of ale or of sweet wine； warm and spiced。 The
Earl was sitting upright in bed； dressed in a furred dressing…gown； and
propped up by two cylindrical bolsters of crimson satin。 Upon the coverlet；
and spread over his knees； was a large wide napkin of linen fringed with
silver thread； and on it rested a silver tray containing the bread and some
cheese。 Two pages and three gentlemen were waiting upon him； and Mad
Noll； the jester； stood at the head of the bed； now and then jingling his
bawble and passing some quaint jest upon the chance of making his master
smile。 Upon a table near by were some dozen or so waxen tapers struck
upon as many spiked candlesticks of silver…gilt； and illuminating that end
of the room with their bright twinkling flames。 One of the gentlemen was
in the act of serving the Earl with a goblet of wine； poured from a silver
ewer by one of the squires； as the groom of the chamber came forward and
spoke。 The Earl； taking the goblet； turned his head； and as Myles looked；
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their eyes met。 Then the Earl turned away again and raised the cup to his
lips； while Myles felt his heart beat more rapidly than ever。
But at last the meal was ended； and the Earl washed his hands and his
mouth and his beard from a silver basin of scented water held by another
one of the squires。 Then； leaning back against the pillows； he beckoned to
Myles。
In answer Myles walked forward the length of the room； conscious
that all eyes were fixed upon him。 The Earl said something； and those who
stood near drew back as he came forward。 Then Myles found himself
standing beside the bed； looking down upon the quilted counterpane；
feeling that the other was gazing fixedly at him。
〃I sent for thee；〃 said the Earl at last； still looking steadily at him；
〃because this afternoon came a letter to my hand which thou hadst written
to my niece； the Lady Alice。 I have it here；〃 said he； thrusting his hand
under the bolster； 〃and have just now finished reading it。〃 Then； after a
moment's pause； whilst he opened the parchment and scanned it again； 〃I
find no matter of harm in it； but hereafter write no more such。〃 He spoke
entirely without anger； and Myles looked up in wonder。 〃Here； take it；〃
said the Earl； folding the letter and tossing it to Myles； who instinctively
caught it； 〃and henceforth trouble thou my niece no more either by letter
or any other way。 I thought haply thou wouldst be at some such saucy trick；
and I made Alice promise to let me know when it happed。 Now； I say； let
this be an end of the matter。 Dost thou not know thou mayst injure her by
such witless folly as that of meeting her privily； and privily writing to
her？〃
〃I meant no harm；〃 said Myles。
〃I believe thee；〃 said the Earl。 〃That will do now； thou mayst go。〃
Myles hesitated。
〃What wouldst thou say？〃 said Lord Mackworth。
〃Only this；〃 said Myles； 〃an I have thy leave so to do； that the Lady
Alice hath chosen me to be her knight； and so； whether I may see her or
speak with her or no； the laws of chivalry give me； who am gentle born；
the right to serve her as a true knight may。〃
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〃As a true fool may；〃 said the Earl； dryly。 〃Why； how now； thou art not
a knight yet； nor anything but a raw lump of a boy。 What rights do the
laws of chivalry give thee； sirrah？ Thou art a fool！〃
Had the Earl been ever so angry； his words would have been less bitter
to Myles than his cool； unmoved patience； it mortified his pride and galled
it to the quick。
〃I know that thou dost hold me in contempt；〃 he mumbled。
〃Out upon thee！〃 said the Earl； testily。 〃Thou dost tease me beyond
patience。 I hold thee in contempt； forsooth！ Why； look thee； hadst thou
been other than thou art； I would have had thee whipped out of my house
long since。 Thinkest thou I would have borne so patiently with another one
of ye squires had such an one held secret meeting with my daughter and
niece； and tampered； as thou hast done； with my household； sending
through one of my people that letter？ Go to； thou art a fool； Myles
Falworth！〃
Myles stood staring at the Earl without making an effort to speak。 The
words that he had heard suddenly flashed； as it were； a new light into his
mind。 In that flash he fully recognized； and for the first time； the strange
and wonderful forbearance the great Earl had shown to him； a poor
obscure boy。 What did it mean？ Was Lord Mackworth his secret friend；
after all； as Gascoyne had more than once asserted？ So Myles stood silent；
thinking many things。
Meantime the other lay back upon the cylindrical bolsters； looking
thoughtfully at him。 〃How old art thou？〃 said he at last。
〃Seventeen last April；〃 answered Myles。
〃Then thou art old enough to have some of the thoughts of a man； and
to lay aside those of a boy。 Haply thou hast had foolish things in thy head
this short time past； it is time that thou put them away。 Harkee； sirrah！ the
Lady Alice is a great heiress in her own right； and mayst command the
best alliance in Englandan Earla Duke。 She groweth apace to a woman；
and then her kind lieth in Courts and great houses。 As for thee； thou art but
a poor lad； penniless and without friends to aid thee to open advancement。
Thy father is attainted； and one whisper of where he lieth hid would bring
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him thence to the Tower； and haply to the block。 Besides that； he hath an
enemy； as Sir James Lee hath already told theean enemy perhaps more
great and powerful than myself。 That enemy watcheth for thy father and
for thee； shouldst thou dare raise thy head or thy fortune ever so little； he
would haply crop them both； and that parlously quick。 Myles Falworth；
how dost thou dare to lift thine eyes to the Lady Alice de Mowbray？〃
Poor Myles stood silent and motionless。 〃Sir；〃 said he at last； in a dry
choking voice； 〃thou art right； and I have been a fool。 Sir； I will never
raise mine eyes to look upon the Lady Alice more。〃
〃I say not that either； boy；〃 said the Earl； 〃but ere thou dost so dare；
thou must first place thyself and thy family whence ye fell。 Till then； as
thou art an honest man； trouble her not。 Now get thee gone。
As Myles crossed the dark and silent courtyards； and looked up at the
clear； still twinkle of the stars； he felt a kind of dull wonder that they and
the night and the world should seem so much the same； and he be so
different。
The first stroke had been given that was to break in pieces his boyhood
lifethe second was soon to follow。
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CHAPTER 21
There are now and then times in the life of every one when new and
strange things occur with such rapidity that one has hardly time to catch
one's breath between the happenings。 It is as though the old were
crumbling awaybreaking in piecesto give place to the new that is soon
to take its place。
So it was with Myles Falworth about this time。 The very next day after
this interview in the bed… chamber； word came to him that Sir James Lee
wished to speak with him in the office。 He found the lean； grizzled old
knight alone； sitting at the heavy oaken table with a tankard of spiced ale
at his elbow； and a dish of wafers and some fragments of cheese on a
pewter platter before him。 He pointed to his clerk's seata joint stool
somewhat like a camp…chair； but made of heavy oaken braces and with a
seat of hog…skinand bade Myles be seated。
It was the first time that Myles h