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ment。　Some　time；　haply；　he　may　find　it；　and　then〃

Myles　had　felt　for　a　long　time　that　he　was　being　moulded　and　shaped；　and　that　the　Earl　of　Mackworth's　was　the　hand　that　was　making　him　what　he　was　growing　to　be；　but　he　had　never　realized　how　great　were　the　things　expected　of　him　should　he　pass　the　first　great　test；　and　show　himself　what　his　friends　hoped　to　see　him。　Now　he　knew　that　all　were　looking　upon　him　to　act；　sometime；　as　his　father's　champion；　and　when　that　time　should　come；　to　challenge　the　Earl　of　Alban　to　the　ordeal　of　single　combat；　to　purge　his　father's　name　of　treason；　to　restore　him　to　his　rank；　and　to　set　the　house　of　Falworth　where　it　stood　before　misfortune　fell　upon　it。

But　it　was　not　alone　concerning　his　and　his　father's　affairs　that　the　Earl　of　Mackworth　talked　to　Myles。　He　told　him　that　the　Earl　of　Alban　was　the　Earl　of　Mackworth's　enemy　also；　that　in　his　younger　days　he　had　helped　Lord　Falworth；　who　was　his　kinsman；　to　win　his　wife；　and　that　then；　Lord　Brookhurst　had　sworn　to　compass　his　ruin　as　he　had　sworn　to　compass　the　ruin　of　his　friend。　He　told　Myles　how；　now　that　Lord　Brookhurst　was　grown　to　be　Earl　of　Alban；　and　great　and　powerful；　he　was　forever　plotting　against　him；　and　showed　Myles　how；　if　Lord　Falworth　were　discovered　and　arrested　for　treason；　he　also　would　be　likely　to　suffer　for　aiding　and　abetting　him。　Then　it　dawned　upon　Myles　that　the　Earl　looked　to　him　to　champion　the　house　of　Beaumont　as　well　as　that　of　Falworth。

〃Mayhap；〃　said　the　Earl；　〃thou　didst　think　that　it　was　all　for　the　pleasant　sport　of　the　matter　that　I　have　taken　upon　me　this　toil　and　endeavor　to　have　thee　knighted　with　honor　that　thou　mightst　fight　the　Dauphiny　knight。　Nay；　nay；　Myles　Falworth；　I　have　not　labored　so　hard　for　such　a　small　matter　as　that。　I　have　had　the　King；　unknown　to　himself；　so　knight　thee　that　thou　mayst　be　the　peer　of　Alban　himself；　and　now　I　would　have　thee　to　hold　thine　own　with　the　Sieur　de　la　Montaigne；　to　try　whether　thou　be'st　Alban's　match；　and　to　approve　thyself　worthy　of　the　honor　of　thy　knighthood。　I　am　sorry；　ne'theless；〃　he　added；　after　a　moment's　pause；　〃that　this　could　not　have　been　put　off　for　a　while　longer；　for　my　plans　for　bringing　thee　to　battle　with　that　vile　Alban　are　not　yet　ripe。　But　such　a　chance　of　the　King　coming　hither　haps　not　often。　And　then　I　am　glad　of　this　muchthat　a　good　occasion　offers　to　get　thee　presently　away　from　England。　I　would　have　thee　out　of　the　King's　sight　so　soon　as　may　be　after　this　jousting。　He　taketh　a　liking　to　thee；　and　I　fear　me　lest　he　should　inquire　more　nearly　concerning　thee　and　so　all　be　discovered　and　spoiled。　My　brother　George　goeth　upon　the　first　of　next　month　to　France　to　take　service　with　the　Dauphin；　having　under　his　command　a　company　of　tenscore　menknights　and　archers；　thou　shalt　go　with　him；　and　there　stay　till　I　send　for　thee　to　return。〃

With　this；　the　protracted　interview　concluded；　the　Earl　charging　Myles　to　say　nothing　further　about　the　French　expedition　for　the　presenteven　to　his　friendfor　it　was　as　yet　a　matter　of　secrecy；　known　only　to　the　King　and　a　few　nobles　closely　concerned　in　the　venture。

Then　Myles　arose　to　take　his　leave。　He　asked　and　obtained　permission　for　Gascoyne　to　accompany　him　to　France。　Then　he　paused　for　a　moment　or　two；　for　it　was　strongly　upon　him　to　speak　of　a　matter　that　had　been　lying　in　his　mind　all　daya　matter　that　he　had　dreamed　of　much　with　open　eyes　during　the　long　vigil　of　the　night　before。

The　Earl　looked　up　inquiringly。　〃What　is　it　thou　wouldst　ask？〃　said　he。

Myles's　heart　was　beating　quickly　within　him　at　the　thought　of　his　own　boldness；　and　as　he　spoke　his　cheeks　burned　like　fire。　〃Sir；〃　said　he；　mustering　his　courage　at　last；　〃haply　thou　hast　forgot　it；　but　I　have　not；　ne'theless；　a　long　time　since　when　I　spoke　of　serving　thethe　Lady　Alice　as　her　true　knight；　thou　didst　wisely　laugh　at　my　words；　and　bade　me　wait　first　till　I　had　earned　my　spurs。　But　now；　sir；　I　have　gotten　my　spurs；　andand　do　now　crave　thy　gracious　leave　that　I　may　serve　that　lady　as　her　true　knight。〃

A　space　of　dead　silence　fell；　in　which　Myles's　heart　beat　tumultuously　within　him。

〃I　know　not　what　thou　meanest；〃　said　the　Earl　at　last；　in　a　somewhat　constrained　voice。　〃How　wouldst　thou　serve　her？　What　wouldst　thou　have？〃

〃I　would　have　only　a　little　matter　just　now；〃　answered　Myles。　〃I　would　but　crave　of　her　a　favor　for　to　wear　in　the　morrow's　battle；　so　that　she　may　know　that　I　hold　her　for　my　own　true　lady；　and　that　I　may　have　the　courage　to　fight　more　boldly；　having　that　favor　to　defend。〃

The　Earl　sat　looking　at　him　for　a　while　in　brooding　silence；　stroking　his　beard　the　while。　Suddenly　his　brow　cleared。　〃So　be　it；〃　said　he。　〃I　grant　thee　my　leave　to　ask　the　Lady　Alice　for　a　favor；　and　if　she　is　pleased　to　give　it　to　thee；　I　shall　not　say　thee　nay。　But　I　set　this　upon　thee　as　a　provision：　that　thou　shalt　not　see　her　without　the　Lady　Anne　be　present。　Thus　it　was；　as　I　remember；　thou　saw　her　first；　and　with　it　thou　must　now　be　satisfied。　Go　thou　to　the　Long　Gallery；　and　thither　they　will　come　anon　if　naught　hinder　them。〃

Myles　waited　in　the　Long　Gallery　perhaps　some　fifteen　or　twenty　minutes。　No　one　was　there　but　himself。　It　was　a　part　of　the　castle　connecting　the　Earl's　and　the　Countess's　apartments；　and　was　used　but　little。　During　that　time　he　stood　looking　absently　out　of　the　open　casement　into　the　stony　court…yard　beyond；　trying　to　put　into　words　that　which　he　had　to　say；　wondering；　with　anxiety；　how　soon　the　young　ladies　would　come；　wondering　whether　they　would　come　at　all。　At　last　the　door　at　the　farther　end　of　the　gallery　opened；　and　turning　sharply　at　the　sound；　he　saw　the　two　young　ladies　enter；　Lady　Alice　leaning　upon　Lady　Anne's　arm。　It　was　the　first　time　that　he　had　seen　them　since　the　ceremony　of　the　morning；　and　as　he　advanced　to　meet　them；　the　Lady　Anne　came　frankly　forward；　and　gave　him　her　hand；　which　Myles　raised　to　his　lips。

〃I　give　thee　joy　of　thy　knighthood；　Sir　Myles；〃　said　she；　〃and　do　believe；　in　good　sooth；　that　if　any　one　deserveth　such　an　honor；　thou　art　he。〃

At　first　little　Lady　Alice　hung　back　behind　her　cousin；　saying　nothing　until　the　Lady　Anne；　turning　suddenly；　said：　〃Come；　coz；　has　thou　naught　to　say　to　our　new…made　knight？　Canst　thou　not　also　wish　him　joy　of　his　knighthood？〃

Lady　Alice　hesitated　a　minute；　then　gave　Myles　a　timid　hand；　which　he；　with　a　strange　mixture　of　joy　and　confusion；　took　as　timidly　as　it　was　offered。　He　raised　the　hand；　and　set　it　lightly　and　for　an　instant　to　his　lips；　as　he　had　done　with　the　Lady　Anne's　hand；　but　with　very　different　emotions。

〃I　give　you　joy　of　your　knighthood；　sir；〃　said　Lady　Alice；　in　a　voice　so　low　that　Myles　could　hardly　hear　it。

Both　flushed　red；　and　as　he　raised　his　head　again；　Myles　saw　that　the　Lady　Anne　had　withdrawn　to　one　side。　Then　he　knew　that　it　was　to　give　him　the　opportunity　to　proffer　his　request。

A　little　space　of　silence　followed；　the　while　he　strove　to　key　his　courage　to　the　saying　of　that　which　lay　at　his　mind。　〃Lady；〃　said　he　at　last；　and　then　again〃Lady；　Ihave　a　favor　for　to　ask　thee。〃

〃What　is　it　thou　wouldst　have；　Sir　Myles？〃　she　murmured；　in　reply。

〃Lady；〃　said　he；　〃ever　sin　I　first　saw　thee　I　have　thought　that　if　I　might　choose　of　all　the　world；　thou　only　wouldst　I　choose　forfor　my　true　lady；　to　serve　as　a　right　knight　should。〃　Here　he　stopped；　frightened　at　his　own　boldness。　Lady　Alice　stood　quite　still；　with　her　face　turned　away。　〃Thouthou　art　not　angered　at　what　I　say？〃　he　said。

She　shook　her　head。

〃I　have　longed　and　longed　for　the　time；〃　said　he；　to　ask　a　boon　of　thee；　and　now　hath　that　time　come。　Lady；　to…morrow　I　go　to　meet　a　right　good　knight；　and　one　skilled　in　arms　and　in　jousting；　as　thou　dost　know。　Yea；　he　is　famous　in　arms；　and　I　be　nobody。　Ne'theless；　I　fight　for　the　honor　of　England　and　Mackworthandand　for　thy　sake。　I　Thou　art　not　angered　at　what　I　say？〃

Again　the　Lady　Alice　shook　her　head。

〃I　would　that　thouI　would　that　thou　would　give　me　some　favor　for　to　wearthy　veil　or　thy　necklace。〃

He　waited　anxiously　for　a　little　while；　but　Lady　Alice　did　not　answer　immediately。

〃I　fear　me；〃　said　Myles；　presently；　〃that　I　have　in　sooth　offended　thee　in　asking　this　thing。　I　know　that　it　is　a　parlous　bold　matter　for　one　so　raw　in　chivalry　and　in　courtliness　as　I　am；　and　one　so　poor　in　rank；　to　ask　thee　for　thy　favor。　An　I　ha'　offended；　I　prithee　let　it　be　as　though　I　had　not　asked　it。〃

Perhaps　it　was　the　young　man's　timidity　that　brought　a　sudden　courage　to　Lady　Alice；　perhaps　it　was　the　graciousness　of　her　gentle　breeding　that　urged　her　to　relieve　Myles's　somewhat　awkward　humility；　perhaps　it　was　something　more　than　either　that　lent　her　bravery　to　speak；　even　knowing　that　the　Lady　Anne　heard　all。　She　turned　quickly　to　him：　〃Nay；　Sir　Myles；〃　she　said；　〃I　am　foolish；　and　do　wrong　thee　by　my　foolishness　and　silence；　for；　truly；　I　am　proud　to　have　thee　wear　my　favor。〃　She　unclasped；　as　she　spoke；　the　thin　gold　chain　from　about　her　neck。　〃I　give　thee　this　chain；〃　said　she；　〃and　it　will　bring　me　joy　to　have　it　honored　by　thy　true　knightliness；　and；　giving　it；　I　do　wish　thee　all　success。〃　Then　she　bowed　her　head；　and；　turning；　left　him　holding　the　necklace　in　his　ha