directions, delighted with the day's proceedings;
which, although they would have been thought of but small account in
the southern counties, were rare, indeed, in a district so thinly
populated, and so frequently engaged in turmoil and strife.

Except in the running match, Oswald had engaged in none of the
contests, he being fully occupied in aiding his mother in welcoming the
guests, and seeing to their comfort; while his father, assisted by his
friends, Hope, Gray, and Liddel, superintended the arrangements for the
sports, and acted as judges. In the afternoon, Oswald and his cousins
had joined heartily in the dances, and enjoyed the day to the full as
much as their visitors.

Gatherings of this kind were not uncommon. Shooting, wrestling, and
sword-playing for the men, and dancing on the green for the young
people, took place at most of the village fairs; but the gathering at
Yardhope was long talked about, as a special occasion, from the
hospitality in which all were included, and the number of the heads of
the border families who were present, and took part in the proceedings.

Oswald's mother had been the prime mover in the matter. She was proud
of her son, and thought that it was a good occasion to present him to
the countryside, as one who was now arriving at manhood, and was
likely, in time, to make a figure on the border. John Forster had at
first declared that it was wholly unnecessary, and that such a thing
had never taken place in his time, or in his father's before him.

"That may be, husband," she said, "but Oswald has been away from us for
two years, and it may be as much more before he returns. He is like to
become a knight, before long--Alwyn said that the lad was sure to win
his spurs--and it would be well that he should not slip out of the
memory of folks here. Besides, we have his cousins, and it is well that
they should carry back news that, in spite of the troublous times, we
can yet be merry on suitable occasions.

"The cost will not be very great. The meat can scarcely be counted,
seeing that we have as many cattle on the moor as can pick up a living
there. Moreover, our neighbours all gave us a helping hand, to repair
the hold after it was sacked last year, and 'tis but right that we
should hold some sort of gathering, and this will do for the two
purposes."

The last argument had more weight with John Forster than the former
ones. Once having consented, he took as much interest in it as