at of the
high table. He said that, except upon rare and special occasions, he
always has been accustomed to take his meals alone, or with some
comrades whom he could take to his room. As this is also John Baldry's
habit, he prayed me to allow him to accept his invitation to share his
room."

"What he says about his habits is true, my lady. I can well understand
my uncle cares not for company where it would not be seemly for him to
raise his voice, or to enter into a hot argument, on some point of
arms."

"What were the services of which Sir Henry speaks?"

"It was a mission with which he charged me, and which involved some
danger."

"By the way," Dame Mortimer said, "my sister-in-law wrote to me, some
time since, telling us of a strange conflict that was held between one
of the squires, and another who had been newly appointed; and who, on
one of the mountain ponies, worsted his opponent, although the latter
was much older, and moreover clad in full armour, and riding a heavy
warhorse. Was it you who were the victor on that occasion?"

"I can scarce be said to have been the victor, my lady. It was, indeed,
hardly a combat. But I maintained that one accustomed to the exercises
in use among our border men, and mounted on one of our ponies,
accustomed to move with great rapidity, and to turn and twist at the
slightest movement of the rider's knee, would be a match for a
heavy-armed knight in single combat; although a number would have no
chance, against the charge of a handful of mailed knights; and Sir
Henry put it to the proof, at once."

Chapter 9: The Welsh Rising.

For a time the garrison at the castle had but little to do. Lord Grey
had taken no steps to recover the estates from which his retainers had
been so unceremoniously ejected. He had, indeed, marched a strong force
through them; but the Welsh had entirely withdrawn, and it would be
necessary to keep so large a force unemployed, were he to reoccupy the
land, that he abstained from taking any decisive action, prior to the
return of the messenger whom he had despatched to inform the king of
the forcible measures that Glendower had taken to recover the estate.
It would have been no trifling step to take, to carry his arms into
Wales, and so bring on a fresh struggle after so many years of peace;
and he would not move in the matter, until he had the royal authority.

Henry lost no time in replying. Glendower had been an open supporter of
Richard,