ld to
follow him. He first showed him the chamber, in one of the turrets,
that he was to occupy; and then took him down to the hall, where two
other knights, four esquires, and two or three pages were assembled, in
readiness for the supper.

Mortimer, with his wife and two daughters, presently came down and took
his place at the head of the table; at which the others sat down, in
order of their rank. As a guest, Oswald was placed among the knights.
Before sitting down, Sir Edmund presented him to his wife and
daughters.

"This is one of Sir Henry Percy's esquires," he said, "and can give you
more news of Sir Percy's wife; of whom, beyond saying that she sends
her greetings to you all, Hotspur tells us nothing."

"Have you been long a member of Sir Henry Percy's household?"

"But a year, my lady."

"Hotspur speaks of him in very high terms, and says that he has
rendered him great services, and that he has the highest confidence in
him."

"To what family do you belong, sir?" the dame asked. "From my husband's
sister, who was staying here some months since, I learned much of your
northern families."

"I am the son of John Forster of Yardhope, who has the reputation of
being as hard a fighter as any on the border. He is not a knight,
though of fair estates; for, although Earl Percy offered him
knighthood, for his services at the battle of Otterburn, he said that
he preferred remaining plain John Forster, as his fathers had been
before him. My mother was a daughter of Sir Walter Gillespie, and my
uncle is captain of the garrison of Alnwick; and it was for his
goodwill towards him, and my father, that Sir Henry appointed me one of
his esquires, thinking, moreover, that I might be more useful than
some, because I know every foot of the border, having relations on the
Scottish side of it."

They now sat down to supper. After it was over, Sir Edmund took Oswald
with him to his wife's bower.

"There," he said, "you can talk at your ease, and tell us how my
sister, your mistress, is, and the children."

"Did you not say, Sir Edmund," his wife asked, "that it was the captain
of his men-at-arms that Sir Hotspur sent hither, in command of the
band?"

"That is so, dame."

"Then, surely, he should have been at our table."

"I asked him," Sir Edmund replied, "but he said that he would rather,
with my permission, lodge with John Baldry; who is, like himself, a
stout soldier, but who likes better his own society than th