ld their own against the
fate which had fallen upon their comrades; "these locks need some little
oiling and curling, for I doubt not that if you look slantwise at my
head, when the light is good, you will yourself perceive that there are
places where the hair is sparse."

"It is for you also to bear the purse," said the lady; "for my sweet
lord is of so free and gracious a temper that he would give it gayly to
the first who asked alms of him. All these things, with some knowledge
of venerie, and of the management of horse, hawk and hound, with the
grace and hardihood and courtesy which are proper to your age, will make
you a fit squire for Sir Nigel Loring."

"Alas! lady," Alleyne answered, "I know well the great honor that you
have done me in deeming me worthy to wait upon so renowned a knight,
yet I am so conscious of my own weakness that I scarce dare incur duties
which I might be so ill-fitted to fulfil."

"Modesty and a humble mind," said she, "are the very first and rarest
gifts in page or squire. Your words prove that you have these, and
all the rest is but the work of use and time. But there is no call for
haste. Rest upon it for the night, and let your orisons ask for guidance
in the matter. We knew your father well, and would fain help his son,
though we have small cause to love your brother the Socman, who is
forever stirring up strife in the county."

"We can scare hope," said Nigel, "to have all ready for our start before
the feast of St. Luke, for there is much to be done in the time. You
will have leisure, therefore, if it please you to take service under me,
in which to learn your devoir. Bertrand, my daughter's page, is hot to
go; but in sooth he is over young for such rough work as may be before
us."

"And I have one favor to crave from you," added the lady of the castle,
as Alleyne turned to leave their presence. "You have, as I understand,
much learning which you have acquired at Beaulieu."

"Little enough, lady, compared with those who were my teachers."

"Yet enough for my purpose, I doubt not. For I would have you give
an hour or two a day whilst you are with us in discoursing with my
daughter, the Lady Maude; for she is somewhat backward, I fear, and hath
no love for letters, save for these poor fond romances, which do but
fill her empty head with dreams of enchanted maidens and of errant
cavaliers. Father Christopher comes over after nones from the priory,
but he is stricken with years