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eastward。 A moment later Aylward broke from the group of archers
and laughing girls who clung to his bridle and his stirrup straps；
and rode on； blowing kisses over his shoulder。 So at last the two
comrades； gentle and simple； were fairly started on their venture。
There are two seasons of color in those parts： the yellow； when
the country…side is flaming with the gorse…blossoms； and the
crimson； when all the long slopes are smoldering with the heather。
So it was now。 Nigel looked back from time to time； as he rode
along the narrow track where the ferns and the ling brushed his
feet on either side； and as he looked it seemed to him that wander
where he might he would never see a fairer scene than that of his
own home。 Far to the westward； glowing in the morning light；
rolled billow after billow of ruddy heather land； until they
merged into the dark shadows of Woolmer Forest and the pale clear
green of the Butser chalk downs。 Never in his life had Nigel
wandered far beyond these limits； and the woodlands； the down and
the heather were dear to his soul。 It gave him a pang in his
heart now as he turned his face away from them； but if home lay to
the westward； out there to the eastward was the great world of
adventure； the noble stage where each of his kinsmen in turn had
played his manly part and left a proud name behind。
How often he had longed for this day！ And now it had come with no
shadow cast behind it。 Dame Ermyntrude was under the King's
protection。 The old servants had their future assured。 The
strife with the monks of Waverley had been assuaged。 He had a
noble horse under him； the best of weapons； and a stout follower
at his back。 Above all he was bound on a gallant errand with the
bravest knight in England as his leader。 All these thoughts
surged together in his mind； and he whistled and sang； as he rode；
out of the joy of his heart； while Pommers sidled and curveted in
sympathy with the mood of his master。 Presently； glancing back；
he saw from Aylward's downcast eyes and Puckered brow that the
archer was clouded with trouble。 He reined his horse to let him
come abreast of him。
〃How now； Aylward？〃 said he。 〃Surely of all men in England you
and I should be the most blithe this morning； since we ride
forward with all hopes of honorable advancement。 By Saint Paul！
ere we see these heather hills once more we shall either
worshipfully win worship； or we shall venture our persons in the
attempt。 These be glad thoughts； and why should you be downcast？〃
Aylward shrugged his broad shoulders； and a wry smile dawned upon
his rugged face。 〃I am indeed as limp as a wetted bowstring；〃
said he。 〃It is the nature of a man that he should be sad when he
leaves the woman he loves。〃
〃In truth； yes！〃 cried Nigel； and in a flash the dark eyes of Mary
Buttesthorn rose before him； and he heard her low； sweet； earnest
voice as he had heard it that night when they brought her frailer
sister back from Shalford Manor； a voice which made all that was
best and noblest in a man thrill within his soul。 〃Yet； bethink
you； archer； that what a woman loves in man is not his gross body；
but rather his soul； his honor； his fame； the deeds with which he
has made his life beautiful。 Therefore you are winning love as
well as glory when you turn to the wars。〃
〃It may be so；〃 said Aylward； 〃but indeed it goes to my heart to
see the pretty dears weep； and I would fain weep as well to keep
them company。 When Mary … or was it Dolly？ … nay； it was Martha；
the red…headed girl from the mill … when she held tight to my
baldric it was like snapping my heart…string to pluck myself
loose。〃
〃You speak of one name and then of another；〃 said Nigel。 〃How is
she called then； this maid whom you love？〃
Aylward pushed back his steel cap and scratched his bristling head
with some embarrassment。 〃Her name；〃 said he； 〃 is Mary Dolly
Martha Susan Jane Cicely Theodosia Agnes Johanna Kate。〃
Nigel laughed as Aylward rolled out this prodigious title。 〃I had
no right to take you to the wars；〃 said he； 〃for by Saint Paul！
it is very clear that I have widowed half the parish。 But I saw
your aged father the franklin。 Bethink you of the joy that will
fill his heart when he hears that you have done some small deed in
France； and so won honor in the eyes of all。〃
〃I fear that honor will not help him to pay his arrears of rent to
the sacrist of Waverley；〃 said Aylward。 〃Out he will go on the
roadside； honor and all； if he does not find ten nobles by next
Epiphany。 But if I could win a ransom or be at the storming of a
rich city； then indeed the old man would be proud of me。 Thy
sword must help my spade； Samkin；' said he as he kissed me goodby。
Ah！ it would indeed be a happy day for him and for all if I could
ride back with a saddle…bag full of gold pieces； and please God； I
shall dip my hand in somebody's pocket before I see Crooksbury
Hill once more！〃
Nigel shook his head； for indeed it seemed hopeless to try to
bridge the gulf between them。 Already they had made such good
progress along the bridle…path through the heather that the little
hill of Saint Catharine and the ancient shrine upon its summit
loomed up before them。 Here they crossed the road from the south
to London； and at the crossing two wayfarers were waiting who
waved their hands in greeting； the one a tall； slender； dark woman
upon a white jennet； the other a very thick and red…faced old man；
whose weight seemed to curve the back of the stout gray cob which
he bestrode。
〃What how； Nigel！〃 he cried。 〃Mary has told me that you make a
start this morning； and we have waited here this hour and more on
the chance of seeing you pass。 Come； lad； and have a last stoup
of English ale； for many a time amid the sour French wines you
will long for the white foam under your nose； and the good homely
twang of it。〃
Nigel had to decline the draft； for it meant riding into Guildford
town； a mile out of his course； but very gladly he agreed with
Mary that they should climb the path to the old shrine and offer a
last orison together。 The knight and Aylward waited below with
the horses； and so it came about that Nigel and Mary found
themselves alone under the solemn old Gothic arches； in front of
the dark shadowed recess in which gleamed the golden reliquary of
the saint。 In silence they knelt side by side in prayer； and then
came forth once more out of the gloom and the shadow into the
fresh sunlit summer morning。 They stopped ere they descended the
path； and looked to right and left at the fair meadows and the
blue Wey curling down the valley。
〃What have you prayed for； Nigel？〃 said she。
〃I have prayed that God and His saints will hold my spirit high
and will send me back from France in such a fashion that I may
dare to come to you and to claim you for my own。〃
〃Bethink you well what it is that you say； Nigel；〃 said she。
〃What you are to me only my own heart can tell； but I would never
set eyes upon your face again rather than abate by one inch that
height of honor and worshipful achievement to which you may
attain。〃
〃Nay； my dear and most sweet lady； how should you abate it； since
it is the thought of you which will nerve my arm and uphold my
heart？〃
〃Think once more； my fair lord； and hold yourself bound by no word
which you have said。 Let it be as the breeze which blows past our
faces and is heard of no more。 Your soul yearns for honor。 To
that has it ever turned。 Is there room in it for love also？ or is
it possible that both shall live at their highest in one mind？ Do
you not call to mind that Galahad and other great knights of old
have put women out of their lives that they might ever give their
whole soul and strength to the winning of honor？ May it not be
that I shall be a drag upon you； that your heart may shrink from
some honorable task； lest it should bring risk and pain to me？
Think well before you answer； my fair lord； for indeed my very
heart would break if it should ever happen that through love of me
your high hopes and great promise should miss fulfilment。〃
Nigel looked at her with sparkling eyes。 The soul which shone
through her dark face had transformed it for the moment into a
beauty more lofty and more rare than that of her shallow sister。
He bowed before the majesty of the woman； and pressed his lips to
her hand。 〃You are like a star upon my path which guides me on
the upward way；〃 said he。 〃Our souls are set together upon the
finding of honor； and how shall we hold each other back when our
purpose is the same？〃
She shook her proud head。 〃So it seems to you now； fair lord； but
it may be otherwise as the years pass。 How shall you prove that I
am indeed a help and not a hindrance？〃
〃I will prove it by my deeds； fair and dear lady；〃 said Nigel。
〃Here at the shrine of the holy Catharine； on this； the Feast of
Saint Margaret； I take my oath that I will do three deeds in your
honor as a proof of my high love before I set eyes upon your face
again； and these three deeds shall stand as a proof to you that if
I love you dearly； still I will not let the thought of you stand
betwixt me and honorable achievement！〃