ow's
heart is hard it is honest, so may he be forgiven who has something to
forgive like the rest of us. Now hearken to me, son and daughter. Wrong,
grievous and dreadful, has been done to you both. Yet, until death or
the Church levels it, a wall that you may not climb stands between you,
and when you meet it must be as friends--no more."

"Now I begin to wish that I had learned in Grey Dick's school," said
Hugh. But whatever she thought, Eve set her lips and said nothing.

CHAPTER IX

CRECY FIELD

It was Saturday, the 26th of August, in the year 1346. The harassed
English host--but a little host, after all, retreating for its life from
Paris--had forced the passage of the Somme by the ford which a forgotten
traitor, Gobin Agache by name, revealed to them. Now it stood at bay
upon the plain of Crecy, there to conquer or to die.

"Will the French fight to-day, what think you?" asked Hugh of Grey Dick,
who had just descended from an apple-tree which grew in the garden of a
burnt-out cottage. Here he had been engaged on the twofold business
of surveying the disposition of the English army and in gathering a
pocketful of fruit which remained upon the tree's topmost boughs.

"I think that these are very good apples," answered Dick, speaking with
his mouth full. "Eat while you get the chance, master, for, who knows,
the next you set your teeth in may be of the kind that grew upon the
Tree of Life in a very old garden," and he handed him two of the best.
Then he turned to certain archers, who clustered round with outstretched
hands, saying: "Why should I give you my apples, fellows, seeing that
you were too lazy to climb and get them for yourselves? None of you ever
gave me anything when I was hungry, after the sack of Caen, in which
my master, being squeamish, would take no part. Therefore I went to bed
supperless, because, as I remember you said, I had not earned it. Still,
as I don't want to fight the French with a bellyache, go scramble for
them."

Then, with a quick motion, he flung the apples to a distance, all save
one, which he presented to a tall man who stood near, adding:

"Take this, Jack Green, in token of fellowship, since I have nothing
else to offer you. I beat you at Windsor, didn't I, when we shot a match
before the King? Now show your skill and beat me and I'll say 'thank
you.' Keep count of your arrows shot, Jack, and I'll keep count of mine,
and when the battle is over, he who has grassed mos