The seneschal asked Hugh if
he would join the knights, but Hugh said he was weary and would rest.
So the seneschal led him to a spacious chamber, from which Hugh could
see the tree-tops of the forest, and the mountains very black, with a
great orange glow of sunset behind; food was served him, and his page
came to him, to do off his armour. And presently, seeing that the page
was very weary, he bade him lie down to sleep; so the page lay down
upon a little bed that was in a turret opening on the room; and soon
after Sir Hugh himself lay down upon a great pillared bed, made of
oak, and hung with tapestries. But he could not sleep, but lay wearily
gazing at the glimmering window and hearing the breathing of the boy
in the turret hard by, till at last he too fell asleep.

The morning came with a great brightness and freshness, with the
hoarse cries of the jackdaws that lived in the ledges of the tower;
Sir Hugh dressed himself carefully and noiselessly, not to wake the
page, who still slept deeply; then he stood beside the boy's bed; the
boy stretched out his arms in slumber and then awoke, ashamed to be
later than his master, and to find him apparelled.

Presently the seneschal came, and led Hugh to the Hall, where were
the two sons of the Lord Bigod, with a large company of knights, that
stood up at his appearing, and did him great honour; and then came a
message for him to go to the Lord Bigod. Hugh saw at once that he was
very weary and had not slept; the letter lay on the table beside him;
and he said to Hugh that he had given the letter great thought, and
that it was a very honourable behest: "And herewith I accept it for
the Lady Mary," he said stammeringly, "who will do as my daughter and
as the chosen of the honourable Earl should do." Then he was silent
for a space, presently adding, "I have not told my daughter the
tidings yet; I will tell her; and then you shall have speech with her;
but I would," he added, "that there was not such haste in the matter;
for a maiden is a tender thing and merits tender usage; do you think,
sir"--and here he looked anxiously upon Hugh--"do you think that the
Earl will consent to a longer delay, that the maiden may grow
accustomed to the thought? She has as yet spoken to no man but myself
and her brothers, and though she is fearless and of a high spirit"--he
broke off suddenly, and then with a wistful glance at Sir Hugh, added,
"Will the Earl delay awhile?" Sir Hugh felt a great