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The Earl drew his thick eyebrows quickly together； and shot a keen
look at the lad。 〃Falworth？〃 said he； sharply〃Falworth？ I know no
Falworth！〃
〃The letter will tell you；〃 said Myles。 〃It is from one once dear to
you。〃
The Earl took the letter； and handing it to a gentleman who stood near；
bade him break the seal。 〃Thou mayst stand；〃 said he to Myles； 〃needst not
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kneel there forever。〃 Then； taking the opened parchment again； he glanced
first at the face and then at the back； and； seeing its length； looked vexed。
Then he read for an earnest moment or two； skipping from line to line。
Presently he folded the letter and thrust it into the pouch at his side。 〃So it
is； your Grace；〃 said he to the lordly prelate； 〃that we who have luck to
rise in the world must ever suffer by being plagued at all times and
seasons。 Here is one I chanced to know a dozen years ago； who thinks he
hath a claim upon me； and saddles me with his son。 I must e'en take the
lad； too； for the sake of peace and quietness。〃 He glanced around； and
seeing Gascoyne； who had drawn near； beckoned to him。 〃Take me this
fellow；〃 said he； 〃to the buttery； and see him fed； and then to Sir James
Lee； and have his name entered in the castle books。 And stay； sirrah；〃 he
added； 〃bid me Sir James； if it may be so done； to enter him as a squire…at…
arms。 Methinks he will be better serving so than in the household； for he
appeareth a soothly rough cub for a page。〃
Myles did look rustic enough； standing clad in frieze in the midst of
that gay company； and a murmur of laughter sounded around； though he
was too bewildered to fully understand that he was the cause of the
merriment。 Then some hand drew him backit was Gascoyne'sthere was
a bustle of people passing； and the next minute they were gone； and Myles
and old Diccon Bowman and the young squire were left alone in the
anteroom。
Gascoyne looked very sour and put out。 〃Murrain upon it！〃 said he；
〃here is good sport spoiled for me to see thee fed。 I wish no ill to thee；
friend； but I would thou hadst come this afternoon or to…morrow。〃
〃Methinks I bring trouble and dole to every one；〃 said Myles；
somewhat bitterly。 〃It would have been better had I never come to this
place； methinks。〃
His words and tone softened Gascoyne a little。 〃Ne'er mind；〃 said the
squire； 〃it was not thy fault； and is past mending now。 So come and fill thy
stomach； in Heaven's name。〃
Perhaps not the least hard part of the whole trying day for Myles was
his parting with Diccon。 Gascoyne and he had accompanied the old
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retainer to the outer gate； in the archway of which they now stood； for
without a permit they could go no farther。 The old bowman led by the
bridle… rein the horse upon which Myles had ridden that morning。 His own
nag； a vicious brute； was restive to be gone； but Diccon held him in with
tight rein。 He reached down； and took Myles's sturdy brown hand in his
crooked； knotted grasp。
〃Farewell； young master；〃 he croaked； tremulously； with a watery
glimmer in his pale eyes。 〃Thou wilt not forget me when I am gone？〃
〃Nay；〃 said Myles； 〃I will not forget thee。〃
〃Aye； aye；〃 said the old man； looking down at him； and shaking his
head slowly from side to side； 〃thou art a great tall sturdy fellow now； yet
have I held thee on my knee many and many's the time； and dandled thee
when thou wert only a little weeny babe。 Be still； thou devil's limb！〃 he
suddenly broke off； reining back his restive raw… boned steed； which
began again to caper and prance。 Myles was not sorry for the interruption；
he felt awkward and abashed at the parting； and at the old man's
reminiscences； knowing that Gascoyne's eyes were resting amusedly upon
the scene； and that the men…at…arms were looking on。 Certainly old Diccon
did look droll as he struggled vainly with his vicious high…necked nag。
〃Nay； a murrain on thee！ an' thou wilt go； go！〃 cried he at last； with a
savage dig of his heels into the animal's ribs； and away they clattered； the
led…horse kicking up its heels as a final parting； setting Gascoyne fairly
alaughing。 At the bend of the road the old man turned and nodded his head；
the next moment he had disappeared around the angle of the wall； and it
seemed to Myles； as he stood looking after him； as though the last thread
that bound him to his old life had snapped and broken。 As he turned he
saw that Gascoyne was looking at him。
〃Dost feel downhearted？〃 said the young squire； curiously。
〃Nay；〃 said Myles； brusquely。 Nevertheless his throat was tight and
dry； and the word came huskily in spite of himself。
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CHAPTER 5
THE EARL of Mackworth； as was customary among the great lords in
those days； maintained a small army of knights； gentlemen； men…at…arms；
and retainers； who were expected to serve him upon all occasions of need；
and from whom were supplied his quota of recruits to fill such levies as
might be made upon him by the King in time of war。
The knights and gentlemen of this little army of horse and foot soldiers
were largely recruited from the company of squires and bachelors； as the
young novitiate soldiers of the castle were called。
This company of esquires consisted of from eighty to ninety lads；
ranging in age from eight to twenty years。 Those under fourteen years
were termed pages； and served chiefly the Countess and her waiting
gentlewomen； in whose company they acquired the graces and polish of
the times； such as they were。 After reaching the age of fourteen the lads
were entitled to the name of esquire or squire。
In most of the great houses of the time the esquires were the especial
attendants upon the Lord and Lady of the house； holding such positions as
body…squires； cup…bearers； carvers； and sometimes the office of
chamberlain。 But Devlen； like some other