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if you have by chance a place for such a man。 I have seen your
following； and I doubt not that they were stout fellows in your
grandfather's time； but which of them now would draw a bow…string
to his ear？ Through you I have left the service of the Abbey of
Waverley； and where can I look now for a post？ If I stay here I
am all undone like a fretted bow…string。〃
〃Nay； there can be no difficulty there；〃 said Chandos。 〃Padieu！
a roistering； swaggering dare…devil archer is worth his price on
the French border。 There are two hundred such who march behind my
own person； and I would ask nothing better than to see you among
them。〃
〃I thank you； noble sir； for your offer；〃 said Aylward； 〃 and I
had rather follow your banner than many another one； for it is
well known that it goes ever forward； and I have heard enough of
the wars to know that there are small pickings for the man who
lags behind。 Yet； if the Squire will have me； I would choose to
fight under the five roses of Loring； for though I was born in the
hundred of Easebourne and the rape of Chichester； yet I have grown
up and learned to use the longbow in these parts； and as the free
son of a free franklin I had rather serve my own neighbor than a
stranger。〃
〃My good fellow；〃 said Nigel； 〃I have told you that I could in no
wise reward you for such service。〃
〃If you will but take me to the wars I will see to my own reward；〃
said Aylward。 〃Till then I ask for none； save a corner of your
table and six feet of your floor； for it is certain that the only
reward I would get from the Abbey for this day's work would be the
scourge for my back and the stocks for my ankles。 Samkin Aylward
is your man； Squire Nigel； from this hour on； and by these ten
finger…bones he trusts the Devil will fly away with him if ever he
gives you cause to regret it！〃 So saying he raised his hand to
his steel cap in salute； slung his great yellow bow over his back；
and followed on some paces in the rear of his new master。
〃Pardieu！ I have arrived a la bonne heure；〃 said Chandos。 〃I
rode from Windsor and came to your manor house； to find it empty
save for a fine old dame； who old me of your troubles。 From her I
walked across to the Abbey； and none too soon； for what with
cloth…yard shafts for your body； and bell； book and candle for
your soul； it was no very cheerful outlook。 But here is the very
dame herself； if I mistake not。〃
It was indeed the formidable figure of the Lady Ermyntrude； gaunt；
bowed and leaning on her staff； which had emerged from the door of
the manor…house and advanced to greet them。 She croaked with
laughter； and shook her stick at the great building as she heard
of the discomfiture of the Abbey court。 Then she led the way into
the hall where the best which she could provide had been laid out
for their illustrious guest。 There was Chandos blood in her own
veins； traceable back through the de Greys； de Multons； de
Valences； de Montagues and other high and noble strains； so that
the meal had been eaten and cleared before she had done tracing
the network of intermarriages and connections； with quarterings；
impalements； lozenges and augmentations by which the blazonry of
the two families might be made to show a common origin。 Back to
the Conquest and before it there was not a noble family…tree every
twig and bud of which was not familiar to the Dame Ermyntrude。
And now when the trestles were cleared and the three were left
alone in the hall； Chandos broke his message to the lady。 〃King
Edward hath ever borne in mind that noble knight your son Sir
Eustace；〃 said he。 〃He will journey to Southampton next week； and
I am his harbinger。 He bade me say； noble and honored lady； that
he would come from Guildford in any easy stage so that he might
spend one night under your roof。〃
The old dame flushed with pleasure； and then turned white with
vexation at the words。 〃It is in truth great honor to the house
of Loring；〃 said she； 〃yet our roof is now humble and； as you have
seen； our fare is plain。 The King knows not that we are so poor。
I fear lest we seem churlish and niggard in his eyes。〃
But Chandos reasoned away her fears。 The King's retinue would
journey on to Farnham Castle。 There were no ladies in his party。
Though he was King； still he was a hardy soldier； and cared little
for his ease。 In any case； since he had declared his coming； they
must make the best of it。 Finally； with all delicacy； Chandos
offered his own purse if it would help in the matter。 But already
the Lady Ermyntrude had recovered her composure。
〃Nay； fair kinsman； that may not be；〃 said she。 〃I will make such
preparation as I may for the King。 He will bear in mind that if
the house of Loring can give nothing else； they have always held
their blood and their lives at his disposal。〃
Chandos was to ride on to Farnham Castle and beyond； but he
expressed his desire to have a warm bath ere he left Tilford； for
like most of his fellow…knights； he was much addicted to simmering
in the hottest water that he could possibly endure。 The bath
therefore； a high hooped arrangement like a broader but shorter
churn； was carried into the privacy of the guest…chamber； and
thither it was that Nigel was summoned to hold him company while
he stewed and sweltered in his tub。
Nigel perched himself upon the side of the high bed； swinging his
legs over the edge and gazing with wonder and amusement at the
quaint face； the ruffled yellow hair； and the sinewy shoulders of
the famous warrior； dimly seen amid a pillar of steam。 He was in
a mood for talk； so Nigel with eager lips plied him with a
thousand questions about the wars； hanging upon every word which
came back to him； like those of the ancient oracles； out of the
mist and the cloud。 To Chandos himself； the old soldier for whom
war had lost its freshness； it was a renewal of his own ardent
youth to listen to Nigel's rapid questions and to mark the rapt
attention with which he listened。
〃Tell me of the Welsh； honored sir；〃 asked the Squire。 〃What
manner of soldiers are the Welsh？〃
〃They are very valiant men of war；〃 said Chandos； splashing about
in his tub。 〃There is good skirmishing to be had in their valleys
if you ride with a small following。 They flare up like a
furzebush in the flames； but if for a short space you may abide
the heat of it； then there is a chance that it may be cooler。〃
〃And the Scotch？〃 asked Nigel。 〃You have made war upon them also；
as I understand。〃
〃The Scotch knights have no masters in the world； and he who can
hold his own with the best of them； be it a Douglas； a Murray or a
Seaton； has nothing more to learn。 Though you be a hard man； you
will always meet as hard a one if you ride northward。 If the
Welsh be like the furze fire； then； padieu！ the Scotch are the
peat； for they will smolder and you will never come to the end of
them。 I have had many happy hours on the marches of Scotland； for
even if there be no war the Percies of Alnwick or the Governor of
Carlisle can still raise a little bickering with the border
clans。〃
〃I bear in mind that my father was wont to say that they were very
stout spearmen。〃
〃No better in the world； for the spears are twelve foot long and
they hold them in very thick array； but their archers are weak；
save only the men of Ettrick and Selkirk who come from the forest。
I pray you to open the lattice； Nigel； for the steam is overthick。
Now in Wales it is the spearmen who are weak； and there are no
archers in these islands like the men of Gwent with their bows of
elm； which shoot with such power that I have known a cavalier to
have his horse killed when the shaft had passed through his mail
breeches； his thigh and his saddle。 And yet； what is the most
strongly shot arrow to these new balls of iron driven by the fire…
powder which will crush a man's armor as an egg is crushed by a
stone？ Our fathers knew them not。〃
〃Then the better for us；〃 cried Nigel； 〃since there is at least
one honorable venture which is all our own。〃
Chandos chuckled and turned upon the flushed youth a twinkling and
sympathetic eye。 〃You have a fashion of speech which carries me
back to the old men whom I met in my boyhood；〃 said he。 〃There
were some of the real old knight…errants left in those days； and
they spoke as you do。 Young as you are； you belong to another
age。 Where got you that trick of thought and word？〃
〃I have had only one to teach me； the Lady Ermyntrude。〃
〃Pardieu！ she has trained a proper young hawk ready to stoop at a
lordly quarry；〃 said Chandos。 〃I would that I had the first
unhooding of you。 Will you not ride with me to the wars？〃
The tears brimmed over from Nigel's eyes； and he wrung the gaunt
hand extended from the bath。 〃By Saint Paul！ what could I ask
better in the world？ I fear to leave her； for she has none other
to care for her。 But if it can in any way be arranged … 〃
〃The King's hand may smooth it out。 Say no more until he is here。
But if you wish to ride with me … 〃
〃What could man wish for more？ Is there a Squire in England who
would not serve under the banner of Chandos！ Whither do you go；
fair sir？ And when do y