the first errands on which he had been sent, he had been
treated as but an ordinary messenger, had been placed at dinner below
the salt, and herded with the men-at-arms. As an esquire of Lord Percy,
he was treated with all courtesy, was introduced to the ladies of the
family, sat at the high table, and was regarded as being in the
confidence of his lord. His youth excited some little surprise, but
acted in his favour, because it was evident that Percy would not have
nominated him as one of his esquires, had he not shown particular
merit. In his journeys, he often passed near Yardhope, where the
rebuilding of the wall and keep was being pushed on with much vigour;
the inhabitants of the villages in the valley lending their assistance
to restore the fortalice, which they regarded as a place of refuge, in
case of sudden invasion by the Scots. His parents were both greatly
pleased at his promotion, especially his mother, who had always been
anxious that he should not settle down to the adventurous, and
dangerous, life led by his father.

"By our Lady," John Forster said, "though it be but six months since
you first left us, you have changed rarely. I speak not of your fine
garments, but you have grown and widened out, and are fast springing
from a boy into a man; and it is no small thing that Percy should have
thought so well of you as to make you one of his esquires, already."

"It was from no merit of mine, Father, but because he thought that, as
his messenger, I should be able to speak in his name with more
authority than had I been merely the bearer of a letter from him."

"'Tis not only that," his father replied. "I received a letter but two
days since from my brother Alwyn, written by the hand of a monk of his
acquaintance, telling me that Lord Percy was mightily pleased with you;
not only because you had set yourself to read and write, but from the
way in which you had defeated one of his esquires in a bout at arms.
Alwyn said that he doubted not that you would win knightly spurs, as
soon as you came to full manhood. So it is clear that merit had
something to do with your advancement, though this may be also due, to
some extent, to the cause you assign for it. The monk who wrote the
letter added, on his own account, that he had been your preceptor; and
that, though he had often rated you soundly, you had made wonderful
progress."

"The monk is a good teacher," Oswald laughed; "but he would have made a
better man