is there aught amiss, that you should
stare so?"
"it is this first word, my lord. in what tongue were you pleased
to write?"
"in english; for my lady talks it more than she doth french.
"yet this is no english word, my sweet lord. here are four t's
and never a letter betwixt them."
"by st. paul! it seemed strange to my eye when i wrote it," said
sir nigel. "they bristle up together like a clump of lances. we
must break their ranks and set them farther apart. the word is
'that.' now i will read it to you, alleyne, and you shall write
it out fair; for we leave bordeaux this day, and it would be
great joy to me to think that the lady loring had word from me."
alleyne sat down as ordered, with a pen in his hand and a fresh
sheet of parchment before him, while sir nigel slowly spelled out
his letter, running his forefinger on from word to word.
"that my heart is with thee, my dear sweeting, is what thine own
heart will assure thee of. all is well with us here, save that
pepin hath the mange on his back, and pommers hath scarce yet got
clear of his stiffness from being four days on ship-board, and
the more so because the sea was very high, and we were like to
founder on account of a hole in her side, which was made by a
stone cast at us by certain sea-rovers, who may the saints have
in their keeping, for they have gone from amongst us, as has
young terlake, and two-score mariners and archers, who would be
the more welcome here as there is like to be a very fine war,
with much honor and all hopes of advancement, for which i go to
gather my company together, who are now at montaubon, where they
pillage and destroy; yet i hope that, by god's help, i may be
able to show that i am their master, even as, my sweet lady, i am
thy servant."
"how of that, alleyne?" continued sir nigel, blinking at his
squire, with an expression of some pride upon his face. "have i
not told her all that hath befallen us?"
"you have said much, my fair lord; and yet, if i may say so, it
is somewhat crowded together, so that my lady loring can, mayhap,
scarce follow it. were it in shorter periods----"
"nay, it boots me not how you marshal them, as long as they are
all there at the muster. let my lady have the words, and she
will place them in such order as pleases her best. but i would
have you add what it would please her to know."
"that will i," said alleyne, blithely, and bent to the task.
"my fair lady and mistress," he wrote, "god hath had us in his
keeping, and my lord is well and in good cheer. he hath won much
honor at the jousting before the prince, when he alone was able
to make it good against a very valiant man from france. touching
the moneys, there is enough and to spare until we reach
montaubon. herewith, my fair lady, i send my humble regards,
entreating you that you will give the same to your daughter, the
lady maude. may the holy saints have you both in their keeping
is ever the prayer of thy servant,
"alleyne edricson."
"that is very fairly set forth," said sir nigel, nodding his bald
head as each sentence was read to him. "and for thyself,
alleyne, if there be any dear friend to whom you would fain give
greeting, i can send it for thee within this packet."
"there is none," said alleyne, sadly.
"have you no kinsfolk, then?"
"none, save my brother."
"ha! i had forgotten that there was ill blood betwixt you. but
are there none in all england who love thee?"
"none that i dare say so."
"and none whom you love?"
"nay, i will not say that," said alleyne.
sir nigel shook his head and laughed softly to himself, "i see
how it is with you," he said. "have i not noted your frequent
sighs and vacant eye? is she fair?"
"she is indeed," cried alleyne from his heart, all tingling at
this sudden turn of the talk.
"and good?"
"as an angel."
"and yet she loves you not?"
"nay, i cannot say that she loves another."
"then you have hopes?"
"i could not live else."
"then must you strive to be worthy of her love. be brave and
pure, fearless to the strong and humble to the weak; and so,
whether this love prosper or no, you will have fitted yourself to
be honored by a maiden's love, which is, in sooth, the highest
guerdon which a true knight can hope for."
"indeed, my lord, i do so strive," said alleyne; "but she is so
sweet, so dainty, and of so noble a spirit, that i fear me that i
shall never be worthy of her."
"by thinking so you become worthy. is she then of noble birth?"
"she is, my lord," faltered alleyne.
"of a knightly house?"
"yes."
"have a care, alleyne, have a care!" said sir nigel, kindly. "the
higher the steed the greater the fall. hawk not at that which
may be beyond thy flight."
"my lord, i know little of the ways and usages
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