ard of the discomfiture
of the Abbey court. Then she led the way into the hall where the best
which she could provide had been laid out for their illustrious guest.
There was Chandos blood in her own veins, traceable back through the de
Greys, de Multons, de Valences, de Montagues and other high and noble
strains, so that the meal had been eaten and cleared before she had done
tracing the network of intermarriages and connections, with quarterings,
impalements, lozenges and augmentations by which the blazonry of the two
families might be made to show a common origin. Back to the Conquest and
before it there was not a noble family-tree every twig and bud of which
was not familiar to the Dame Ermyntrude.

And now when the trestles were cleared and the three were left alone in
the hall, Chandos broke his message to the lady. "King Edward hath ever
borne in mind that noble knight your son Sir Eustace," said he. "He will
journey to Southampton next week, and I am his harbinger. He bade me
say, noble and honored lady, that he would come from Guildford in any
easy stage so that he might spend one night under your roof."

The old dame flushed with pleasure, and then turned white with vexation
at the words. "It is in truth great honor to the house of Loring," said
she, "yet our roof is now humble and, as you have seen, our fare is
plain. The King knows not that we are so poor. I fear lest we seem
churlish and niggard in his eyes."

But Chandos reasoned away her fears. The King's retinue would journey
on to Farnham Castle. There were no ladies in his party. Though he was
King, still he was a hardy soldier, and cared little for his ease. In
any case, since he had declared his coming, they must make the best
of it. Finally, with all delicacy, Chandos offered his own purse if it
would help in the matter. But already the Lady Ermyntrude had recovered
her composure.

"Nay, fair kinsman, that may not be," said she. "I will make such
preparation as I may for the King. He will bear in mind that if the
house of Loring can give nothing else, they have always held their blood
and their lives at his disposal."

Chandos was to ride on to Farnham Castle and beyond, but he expressed
his desire to have a warm bath ere he left Tilford, for like most of his
fellow-knights, he was much addicted to simmering in the hottest
water that he could possibly endure. The bath therefore, a high hooped
arrangement like a broader but shorter churn, was ca