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the fumes of sleep； huddled into his doublet and hose； hardly knowing
what he was doing； tying a point here and a point there； and slipping his
feet into his shoes。 Then he hurried after Gascoyne； frowzy； half…dressed；
and even yet only half…awake。 It was not until he was fairly out into the
fresh air and saw Gascoyne filling the three leathern buckets at the tank；
that he fully awakened to the fact that he was actually doing that hateful
service for the bachelors which he had protested he would sooner die than
render。
The sun was just rising； gilding the crown of the donjon…keep with a
flame of ruddy light。 Below； among the lesser buildings； the day was still
gray and misty。 Only an occasional noise broke the silence of the early
morning： a cough from one of the rooms； the rattle of a pot or a pan；
stirred by some sleepy scullion； the clapping of a door or a shutter； and
now and then the crowing of a cock back of the long row of stablesall
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sounding loud and startling in the fresh dewy stillness。
〃Thou hast betrayed me；〃 said Myles； harshly； breaking the silence at
last。 〃I knew not what I was doing； or else I would never have come hither。
Ne'theless； even though I be come； I will not carry the water for them。〃
〃So be it；〃 said Gascoyne； tartly。 〃An thou canst not stomach it； let be；
and I will e'en carry all three myself。 It will make me two journeys； but；
thank Heaven； I am not so proud as to wish to get me hard knocks for
naught。〃 So saying； he picked up two of the buckets and started away
across the court for the dormitory。
Then Myles； with a lowering face； snatched up the third； and； hurrying
after； gave him his hand with the extra pail。 So it was that he came to do
service； after all。
〃Why tarried ye so long？〃 said one of the older bachelors； roughly； as
the two lads emptied the water into the wooden trough。 He sat on the edge
of the cot； blowzed and untrussed； with his long hair tumbled and
disordered。
His dictatorial tone stung Myles to fury。 〃We tarried no longer than
need be；〃 answered he； savagely。 〃Have we wings to fly withal at your
bidding？〃
He spoke so loudly that all in the room heard him； the younger squires
who were dressing stared in blank amazement； and Blunt sat up suddenly
in his cot。
〃Why； how now？〃 he cried。 〃Answerest thou back thy betters so pertly；
sirrah？ By my soul； I have a mind to crack thy head with this clog for thy
unruly talk。〃
He glared at Myles as he spoke； and Myles glared back again with
right good…will。 Matters might have come to a crisis； only that Gascoyne
and Wilkes dragged their friend away before he had opportunity to answer。
〃An ill…conditioned knave as ever I did see；〃 growled Blunt； glaring
after him。
〃Myles； Myles；〃 said Gascoyne； almost despairingly； 〃why wilt thou
breed such mischief for thyself？ Seest thou not thou hast got thee the ill…
will of every one of the bachelors； from Wat Blunt to Robin de Ramsey？〃
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〃I care not；〃 said Myles； fiercely； recurring to his grievance。 〃Heard ye
not how the dogs upbraided me before the whole room？ That Blunt called
me an ill…conditioned knave。〃
〃Marry！〃 said Gascoyne； laughing； 〃and so thou art。〃
Thus it is that boldness may breed one enemies as well as gain one
friends。 My own notion is that one's enemies are more quick to act than
one's friends。
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CHAPTER 8
Every one knows the disagreeable； lurking discomfort that follows a
quarrela discomfort that imbitters the very taste of life for the time being。
Such was the dull distaste that Myles felt that morning after what had
passed in the dormitory。 Every one in the proximity of such an open
quarrel feels a reflected constraint； and in Myles's mind was a disagreeable
doubt whether that constraint meant disapproval of him or of his late
enemies。
It seemed to him that Gascoyne added the last bitter twang to his
unpleasant feelings when； half an hour later； they marched with the others
to chapel。
〃Why dost thou breed such trouble for thyself； Myles？〃 said he；
recurring to what he had already said。 〃Is it not foolish for thee to come
hither to this place； and then not submit to the ways thereof； as the rest of
us do？〃
〃Thou talkest not like a true friend to chide me thus；〃 said Myles；
sullenly； and he withdrew his arm from his friend's。
〃Marry； come up！〃 said Gascoyne； 〃an I were not thy friend； I would
let thee jog thine own way。 It aches not my bones to have thine drubbed。〃
Just then they entered the chapel； and words that might have led to a
quarrel were brought to a close。
Myles was not slow to see that he had the ill will of the head of their
company。 That morning in the armory he had occasion to ask some
question of Blunt； the head squire stared coldly at him for a moment； gave
him a short； gruff answer； and then； turning his back abruptly； began
talking with one of the other bachelors。 Myles flushed hot at the other's
insulting manner； and looked quickly around to see if any of the others had
observed what had passed。 It was a comfort to him to see that all were too
busy arming themselves to think of anything else； nevertheless； his face
was very lowering as he turned away。
〃Some day I will show him that I am as good a man as he；〃 he
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muttered to himself。 〃An evil… hearted dog to put shame upon me！〃
The storm was brewing and ready to break。
That day was exceptionally hot and close； and permission had been
asked by and granted to those squires not on duty to go down to the river
for a bath after exercise at the pels。 But as Myles replaced his arms in the
rack； a little page came with a bidding to come to Sir James in his office。
〃Look now；〃 said Myles； 〃here is just my ill… fortune。 Why might he
not have waited an hour longer rather than cause me to miss going with
ye？〃
〃Nay；〃 said Gascoyne； 〃let not that grieve thee； Myles。 Wilkes and I
will wait for thee in the dormitorywill we not； Edmund？ Make thou haste
and go to Sir James。〃
Sir James was sitting at the table studying over a scroll of parchment；
when Myles entered his office and stood before him at the table。
〃Well； boy；〃 said he； laying aside the parchment and looking up at the
lad； 〃I have tried thee fairly for these few days； and may say that I have
found thee worthy to be entered upon the rolls as esquire of the body。〃
〃I give thee thanks； sir；〃 said Myles。
The knight nodded his head in acknowledgement； but did not at once
give the word of dismissal that Myles had expected。 〃Dost mean to write
thee a letter home soon？〃 said he； suddenly。
〃Aye；〃 said Myles； gaping in great wonderment at the strangeness of
the question。
〃Then when thou dost so write；〃 said Sir James； 〃give thou my deep
regards to thy father。〃 Then he continued； after a brief pause。 〃Him did I
know well in times gone by； and we were right true friends in hearty love；
and for his sake I would befriend theethat is； in so much as is fitting。〃
〃Sir；〃 said Myles； but Sir James held up his hand； and he stopped short
in his thanks。
〃But； boy；〃 said he； 〃that which I sent for thee for to tell thee was of
more import than these。 Dost thou know that thy father is an attainted
outlaw？〃
〃Nay；〃 cried Myles； his cheeks blazing up as red as fire； 〃who sayeth
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that of him lieth in his teeth。〃
〃Thou dost mistake me；〃 said Sir James； quietly。 〃It is sometimes no
shame to be outlawed and banned。 Had it been so； I would not have told
thee thereof； nor have bidden thee send my