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great ruddy glare through the barrack…like room a light of all others to
romp by。 Myles and Gascoyne were engaged in defending the passage…
way between their two cots against the attack of three other lads； and
Myles held his sheepskin coverlet rolled up into a ball and balanced in his
hand； ready for launching at the head of one of the others so soon as it
should rise from behind the shelter of a cot。 Just then Walter Blunt；
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dressed with more than usual care； passed by on his way to the Earl's
house。 He stopped for a moment and said； 〃Mayhaps I will not be in until
late to…night。 Thou and Falworth； Gascoyne； may fetch water to…morrow。
Then he was gone。 Myles stood staring after his retreating figure with
eyes open and mouth agape； still holding the ball of sheepskin balanced in
his hand。 Gascoyne burst into a helpless laugh at his blank； stupefied face；
but the next moment he laid his hand on his friend's shoulder。
〃Myles；〃 he said； 〃thou wilt not make trouble； wilt thou？〃
Myles made no answer。 He flung down his sheepskin and sat him
gloomily down upon the side of the cot。
〃I said that I would sooner die than fetch water for them；〃 said he。
〃Aye； aye；〃 said Gascoyne； 〃but that was spoken in haste。〃
Myles said nothing； but shook his head。
But； after all； circumstances shape themselves。 The next morning when
he rose up through the dark waters of sleep it was to feel some one
shaking him violently by the shoulder。
〃Come！〃 cried Gascoyne； as Myles opened his eyes〃come； time
passeth； and we are late。〃
Myles； bewildered with his sudden awakening； and still fuddled with
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