ives in to her wishes; and I was sure that, as you were a lad of
spirit, you would be glad to try a flight from home.

"You are growing up mightily like your father, and promise to be as big
and as strong as we both are. Your eyes speak of a bold disposition,
and my brother tells me that you are already well practised with your
arms.

"You understand that it is Sir Henry, whom they call Hotspur, that you
are to serve. As to the earl, he is too great a personage for me to ask
a favour from, but Sir Henry is different. I taught him the first use
of his arms, and many a bout have I had with him. He treats me as a
comrade, rather than as the captain of his father's men-at-arms, here;
and when I spoke to him about you, he said at once:

"'Bring him here, and we will see what we can do for him. If he is a
fellow of parts and discretion, I doubt not that we can make him
useful. You say he knows every inch of our side of the border, and
something of the Scottish side of it, his mother's sister being married
to one of the Armstrongs. There is like to be trouble before long. You
know the purpose for which I am going away; and the Scots are sure to
take advantage of changes in England, and a youth who can ride, and
knows the border, and can, if needs be, strike a blow in self defence,
will not have to stay idle in the castle long. His father is a stout
withstander of the Scots, and the earl would have given him knighthood,
if he would have taken it; and maybe, in the future, the son will win
that honour. He is too old for a page, and I should say too little
versed in our ways for such a post; but I promise you that, when he is
old enough, he shall be one of my esquires.'

"So you may soon have an opportunity of showing Hotspur what you are
made of. And now, I doubt not that you are hungry. I will send down to
the buttery, for a couple of tankards and a pasty. I had my supper two
hours ago, but I doubt not that I can keep you company in another."

He went to the window, and called out, "John Horn!"

The name was repeated below, and in two minutes a servant came up. The
captain gave him directions, and they shortly sat down to a substantial
meal.

"The first thing to do, lad, will be to get you garments more suitable
to the Percys' castle than those you have on; they are good enough to
put on under armour, or when you ride in a foray; but here, one who
would ride in the train of the Percys must make a brave show. It is
curfe