you have not his mighty breadth of shoulder and
length of limb. There was not in all the King's great host a taller or
a stronger man. His harness would be little use to you. No, fair son, I
rede you that when the time comes you sell this crumbling house and the
few acres which are still left, and so go forth to the wars in the hope
that with your own right hand you will plant the fortunes of a new house
of Loring."

A shadow of anger passed over Nigel's fresh young face. "I know not if
we may hold off these monks and their lawyers much longer. This very
day there came a man from Guildford with claims from the Abbey extending
back before my father's death."

"Where are they, fair son?"

"They are flapping on the furze-bushes of Hankley, for I sent his papers
and parchments down wind as fast as ever falcon flew."

"Nay! you were mad to do that, Nigel. And the man, where is he?"

"Red Swire and old George the archer threw him into the Thursley bog."

"Alas! I fear me such things cannot be done in these days, though
my father or my husband would have sent the rascal back to Guildford
without his ears. But the Church and the Law are too strong now for us
who are of gentler blood. Trouble will come of it, Nigel, for the Abbot
of Waverley is not one who will hold back the shield of the Church from
those who are her servants."

"The Abbot would not hurt us. It is that gray lean wolf of a sacrist who
hungers for our land. Let him do his worst. I fear him not."

"He has such an engine at his back, Nigel, that even the bravest must
fear him. The ban which blasts a man's soul is in the keeping of his
church, and what have we to place against it? I pray you to speak him
fair, Nigel."

"Nay, dear lady, it is both my duty and my pleasure to do what you bid
me; but I would die ere I ask as a favor that which we can claim as a
right. Never can I cast my eyes from yonder window that I do not see the
swelling down-lands and the rich meadows, glade and dingle, copse and
wood, which have been ours since Norman-William gave them to that Loring
who bore his shield at Senlac. Now, by trick and fraud, they have passed
away from us, and many a franklin is a richer man than I; but never
shall it be said that I saved the rest by bending my neck to their yoke.
Let them do their worst, and let me endure it or fight it as best I
may."

The old lady sighed and shook her head. "You speak as a Loring should,
and yet I fear that some great t