oken message is
the best; for if a messenger be killed on the way, none are the wiser
as to the errand on which he is going; while, if a parchment is found
on him, the first priest or monk can translate its purport.

"The chaplain has two younger priests with him; and, should you be
willing, I doubt not that one of these would give you instruction, for
an hour or two of a day. The Percys may not be back for another month
or two, and if you apply yourself to it honestly, you might learn
something by that time."

"I should like it very much, Uncle."

"Then, so it shall be, lad. For two or three hours a day you must
practise in arms--I have some rare swordsmen among my fellows--but for
the rest of the time, you will be your own master. I will speak with
father Ernulf, in the morning, after we have seen to the matter of your
garments."

A straw pallet was brought up to the chamber; and, after chatting for
half an hour about his visit to the Armstrongs, Oswald took off his
riding boots and jerkin, the total amount of disrobing usual at that
time on the border, and was soon asleep.

"I am afraid, Uncle," he said in the morning, "that the furnishment of
the purse my father gave me, at starting, will not go far towards what
you may consider necessary for my outfit."

"That need not trouble you at all, lad. I told your father I should
take all charges upon myself, having no children of my own, and no way
to spend my money; therefore I can afford well to do as I like towards
you. Once the war begins, you will fill your purse yourself; for
although the peoples of the towns and villages suffer by the Scotch
incursions, we men-at-arms profit by a war. We have nought that they
can take from us, but our lives, while we take our share of the booty,
and have the ransom of any knights or gentlemen we may make prisoners."

Accordingly they went into Alnwick, and Alwyn Forster bought for his
nephew several suits of clothes, suitable for a young gentleman of good
family; together with armour, of much more modern fashion than that to
which Oswald was accustomed. When they returned to the castle, the lad
was told to put on one of these suits, at once.

"Make your old ones up in a bundle," his uncle said. "There may be
occasions when you may find such clothes useful; though here,
assuredly, they are out of place. Now, I will go with you to Father
Ernulf."

The priest's abode was in what was called the Abbots' Tower, which was
the o