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plate of proof here and a cunning joint there； and all must be
from Toledo or Milan； so that a knight must have much metal in his
purse ere he puts any on his limbs。〃
Nigel looked up wistfully at the old armor which was slung on the
beams above him。 〃The ash spear is good；〃 said he； 〃and so is the
oaken shield with facings of steel。 Sir Roger FitzAlan handled
them and said that he had never seen better。 But the armor … 〃
Lady Ermyntrude shook her old head and laughed。 〃You have your
father's great soul； Nigel； but you have not his mighty breadth of
shoulder and length of limb。 There was not in all the King's
great host a taller or a stronger man。 His harness would be
little use to you。 No； fair son； I rede you that when the time
comes you sell this crumbling house and the few acres which are
still left； and so go forth to the wars in the hope that with your
own right hand you will plant the fortunes of a new house of
Loring。〃
A shadow of anger passed over Nigel's fresh young face。 〃I know
not if we may hold off these monks and their lawyers much longer。
This very day there came a man from Guildford with claims from the
Abbey extending back before my father's death。〃
〃Where are they； fair son？〃
〃They are flapping on the furze…bushes of Hankley； for I sent his
papers and parchments down wind as fast as ever falcon flew。〃 ‘
〃Nay！ you were mad to do that； Nigel。 And the man； where is he？〃
〃Red Swire and old George the archer threw him into the Thursley
bog。〃
〃Alas！ I fear me such things cannot be done in these days； though
my father or my husband would have sent the rascal back to
Guildford without his ears。 But the Church and the Law are too
strong now for us who are of gentler blood。 Trouble will come of
it； Nigel； for the Abbot of Waverley is not one who will hold back
the shield of the Church from those who are her servants。〃
〃The Abbot would not hurt us。 It is that gray lean wolf of a
sacrist who hungers for our land。 Let him do his worst。 I fear
him not。〃
〃He has such an engine at his back； Nigel； that even the bravest
must fear him。 The ban which blasts a man's soul is in the
keeping of his church； and what have we to place against it？ I
pray you to speak him fair； Nigel。〃
〃Nay； dear lady； it is both my duty and my pleasure to do what you
bid me； but I would die ere I ask as a favor that which we can
claim as a right。 Never can I cast my eyes from yonder window
that I do not see the swelling down…lands and the rich meadows；
glade and dingle； copse and wood； which have been ours since
Norman…William gave them to that Loring who bore his shield at
Senlac。 Now； by trick and fraud； they have passed away from us；
and many a franklin is a richer man than I； but never shall it be
said that I saved the rest by bending my neck to their yoke。 Let
them do their worst； and let me endure it or fight it as best I
may。〃
The old lady sighed and shook her head。 〃You speak as a Loring
should； and yet I fear that some great trouble will befall us。
But let us talk no more of such matters； since we cannot mend
them。 Where is your citole； Nigel？ Will you not play and sing to
me？〃
The gentleman of those days could scarce read and write； but he
spoke in two languages； played at least one musical instrument as
a matter of course； and possessed a number of other
accomplishments； from the imping of hawk's feathers； to the
mystery of venery； with knowledge of every beast and bird； its
time of grace and when it was seasonable。 As far as physical
feats went； to vault barebacked upon a horse； to hit a running
hare with a crossbow…bolt； or to climb the angle of a castle
courtyard； were feats which had come by nature to the young
Squire； but it was very different with music； which had called for
many a weary hour of irksome work。 Now at last he could master
the strings； but both his ear and his voice were not of the best；
so that it was well perhaps that there was so small and so
unprejudiced an audience to the Norman…French chanson； which he
sang in a high reedy voice with great earnestness of feeling； but
with many a slip and quaver； waving his yellow head in cadence to
the music：
A sword！ A sword！ Ah； give me a sword！
For the world is all to win。
Though the way be hard and the door be barred；
The strong man enters in。
If Chance and Fate still hold the gate；
Give me the iron key；
And turret high my plume shall fly；
Or you may weep for me！
A horse！ A horse！ Ah； give me a horse！
To bear me out afar；
Where blackest need and grimmest deed
And sweetest perils are。
Hold thou my ways from glutted days
Where poisoned leisure lies；
And point the path of tears and wrath
Which mounts to high emprise！
A heart！ A heart！ Ah； give me a heart
To rise to circumstance！
Serene and high and bold to try
The hazard of the chance；
With strength to wait； but fixed as fate
To plan and dare and do；
The peer of all； and only thrall；
Sweet lady mine； to you！
It may have been that the sentiment went for more than the music；
or it may have been the nicety of her own ears had been dulled by
age； but old Dame Ermyntrude clapped her lean hands together and
cried out in shrill applause。
〃Weathercote has indeed had an apt pupil！〃 she said。 〃I pray you
that you will sing again。〃
〃Nay； dear dame； it is turn and turn betwixt you and me。 I beg
that you will recite a romance； you who know them all。 For all
the years that I have listened I have never yet come to the end of
them； and I dare swear that there are more in your head than in
all the great books which they showed me at Guildford Castle。 I
would fain hear ‘Doon of Mayence；' or ‘The Song of Roland；' or
‘Sir Isumbras。'〃
So the old dame broke into a long poem； slow and dull in the
inception； but quickening as the interest grew； until with darting
hands and glowing face she poured forth the verses which told of
the emptiness of sordid life； the beauty of heroic death； the high
sacredness of love and the bondage of honor。 Nigel； with set；
still features and brooding eyes； drank in the fiery words； until
at last they died upon the old woman's lips and she sank back
weary in her chair。
Nigel stooped over her and kissed her brow。 〃Your words will ever
be as a star upon my path；〃 said he。 Then； carrying over the
small table and the chessmen； he proposed that they should play
their usual game before they sought their rooms for the night。
But a sudden and rude interruption broke in upon their gentle
contest。 A dog pricked its ears and barked。 The others ran
growling to the door。 And then there came a sharp clash of arms；
a dull heavy blow as from a club or sword…pommel； and a deep voice
from without summoned them to open in the King's name。 The old
dame and Nigel had both sprung to their feet； their table
overturned and their chessmen scattered among the rushes。 Nigel's
hand had sought his crossbow；