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g upon his good…nature。 All took a pride in his practice in knightly exercises； and fabulous tales were current among the young fry concerning his strength and skill。
Yet； although Myles was now at the head of his class； he did not； as other chief bachelors had done； take a leading position among the squires in the Earl's household service。 Lord Mackworth； for his own good reasons； relegated him to the position of Lord George's especial attendant。 Nevertheless； the Earl always distinguished him from the other esquires； giving him a cool nod whenever they met； and Myles； upon his partnow that he had learned better to appreciate how much his Lord had done for himwould have shed the last drop of blood in his veins for the head of the house of Beaumont。
As for the two young ladies； he often saw them； and sometimes； even in the presence of the Earl； exchanged a few words with them； and Lord Mackworth neither forbade it nor seemed to notice it。
Towards the Lady Anne he felt the steady friendly regard of a lad for a girl older than himself； towards the Lady Alice； now budding into ripe young womanhood； there lay deep in his heart the resolve to be some day her true knight in earnest as he had been her knight in pretence in that time of boyhood when he had so perilously climbed into the privy garden。
In body and form he was now a man； and in thought and heart was quickly ripening to manhood； for； as was said before； men matured quickly in those days。 He was a right comely youth； for the promise of his boyish body had been fulfilled in a tall； powerful； well…knit frame。 His face was still round and boyish； but on cheek and chin and lip was the curl of adolescent beard soft； yellow； and silky。 His eyes were as blue as steel； and quick and sharp in glance as those of a hawk； and as he walked； his arms swung from his broad； square shoulders； and his body swayed with pent…up strength ready for action at any moment。
If little Lady Alice； hearing much talk of his doings and of his promise in these latter times； thought of him now and then it is a matter not altogether to be wondered at。
Such were the changes that three years had wrought。 And from now the story of his manhood really begins。
Perhaps in all the history of Devlen Castle； even at this； the high tide of pride and greatness of the house of Beaumont； the most notable time was in the early autumn of the year 1411； when for five days King Henry IV was entertained by the Earl of Mackworth。 The King was at that time making a progress through certain of the midland counties； and with him travelled the Comte de Vermoise。 The Count was the secret emissary of the Dauphin's faction in France； at that time in the very bitterest intensity of the struggle with the Duke of Burgundy； and had come to England seeking aid for his master in his quarrel。
It was not the first time that royalty had visited Devlen。 Once； in Earl Robert's day； King Edward II had spent a week at the castle during the period of the Scottish wars。 But at that time it was little else than a military post； and was used by the King as such。 Now the Beaumonts were in the very flower of their prosperity； and preparations were made for the coming visit of royalty upon a scale of such magnificence and splendor as Earl Robert； or perhaps even King Edward himself； had never dreamed。
For weeks the whole castle had been alive with folk hurrying hither and thither； and with the daily and almost hourly coming of pack…horses； laden with bales and boxes； from London。 From morning to night one heard the ceaseless chip… chipping of the masons' hammers； and saw carriers of stones and mortar ascending and descending the ladders of the scaffolding that covered the face of the great North Hall。 Within； that part of the building was alive with the scraping of the carpenters' saws； the clattering of lumber； and the rapping and banging of hammers。
The North Hall had been assigned as the lodging place for the King and his court； and St。 George's Hall （as the older building adjoining it was called） had been set apart as the lodging of the Comte de Vermoise and the knights and gentlemen attendant upon him。
The great North Hall had been very much altered and changed for the accommodation of the King and his people； a beautiful gallery of carved wood…work had been built within and across the south end of the room for the use of the ladies who were to look down upon the ceremonies below。 Two additional windows had been cut through the wall and glazed； and passage…ways had been opened connecting with the royal apartments beyond。 In the bedchamber a bed of carved wood and silver had been built into the wall； and had been draped with hangings of pale blue and silver； and a magnificent screen of wrought…iron and carved wood had been erected around the couch； rich and beautiful tapestries brought from Italy and Flanders were hung upon the walls； cushions of velvets and silks stuffed with down covered benches and chairs。 The floor of the hall was spread with mats of rushes stained in various colors； woven into curious patterns； and in the smaller rooms precious carpets of arras were laid on the cold stones。
All of the cadets of the House had been assembled； all of the gentlemen in waiting； retainers and clients。 The castle seemed full to overflowing； even the dormitory of the squires was used as a lodging place for many of the lesser gentry。
So at last； in the midst of all this bustle of preparation； came the day of days when the King was to arrive。 The day before a courier had come bringing the news that he was lodging at Donaster Abbey overnight； and would make progress the next day to Devlen。
That morning； as Myles was marshalling the pages and squires； and； with the list of names in his hand； was striving to evolve some order out of the confusion； assigning the various individuals their special dutiesthese to attend in the household； those to ride in the escortone of the gentlemen of Lord George's household came with an order for him to come immediately to the young nobleman's apartments。 Myles hastily turned over his duties to Gascoyne and Wilkes； and then hurried after the messenger。 He found Lord George in the antechamber； three gentlemen squires arming him in a magnificent suit of ribbed Milan。
He greeted Myles with a nod and a smile as the lad entered。 〃Sirrah；〃 said he； 〃I have had a talk with Mackworth this morn concerning thee； and have a mind to do thee an honor in my poor way。 How wouldst thou like to ride to…day as my special squire of escort？〃
Myles flushed to the roots of his hair。 〃Oh； sir！〃 he cried； eagerly； 〃an I be not too ungainly for thy purpose； no honor in all the world could be such joy to me as that！〃
Lord George laughed。 〃A little matter pleases thee hugely；〃 said he； 〃but as to being ungainly； who so sayeth that of thee belieth thee； Myles； thou art not ungainly； sirrah。 But that is not to the point。 I have chosen thee for my equerry to… day； so make thou haste and don thine armor； and then come hither again； and Hollingwood will fit thee with a wreathed bascinet I have within； and a juppon embroidered with my arms and colors。〃
When Myles had made his bow and left his patron； he