w, now; but tomorrow, early, we will sally into the town, where we
shall find a good choice of garments, for men of all conditions. You
hold yourself well, and you have something of your mother's softness of
speech; and will, I think, make a good impression on Sir Henry, when
suitably clad.

"You see, there are many sons of knights, of good repute and standing,
who would be glad, indeed, that their sons should obtain a post in
Hotspur's personal following; and who might grumble, were they passed
over in favour of one who, by his appearance, was of lower condition
than themselves.

"John Forster is well known, on the border, as a valiant fighter, and a
leading man in Coquetdale. It is known, too, that he might have been
knighted, had he chosen; and doubtless there are many who, having heard
that his hold is one of the strongest on the border, give him credit
for having far wider possessions than that bit of moor round the hold,
and grazing rights for miles beyond it. If, then, you make a brave
show, none will question the choice that Hotspur may make; but were you
to appear in that garb you have on, they might well deem that your
father is, after all, but a moss trooper.

"He told me that you had, once, a fancy to learn to read and write.
What put that idea into your head? I do not say that it was not a good
one, but at least it was a strange one, for a lad brought up as you
have been."

"I think, Uncle, that it was rather my mother's idea than my own; she
thought that it might conduce to my advancement, should I ever leave
the hold and go out into the world."

"She was quite right, Oswald; and 'tis a pity that you did not go, for
a couple of years, to a monastery. It is a good thing to be able to
read an order, or to write one, for many of the lords and knights can
do no more than make a shift to sign their names. As for books I say
nothing, for I see not what manner of good they are; but father Ernulf,
who is chaplain here, tells me that one who gives his mind to it can,
in a year, learn enough to write down, not in a clerkly hand, but in
one that can be understood, any letter or order his lord may wish sent,
or to read for him any that he receives.

"In most matters, doubtless, an order by word of mouth is just as good
as one writ on vellum; but there are times when a messenger could not
be trusted to deliver one accurately, as he receives it; or it might
have to be passed on, from hand to hand. Otherwise, a sp