n like you.
I should have liked it, and had rather a jolly time," and he gazed hard
at the delicate-looking lad, whose very aspect, in spite of his
disorder, suggested that he had led a gentle life, possibly mingling
with the followers of the Court.

The gaze was returned--a gaze full of wonderment.

"What would you have done?" said the stranger. "Eaten the bitter acorns
and the leaves?"

"No," cried Waller, laughing, "I should just think not! Why, I should
have done as Bunny Wrigg would--scraped myself out a good hole in the
side of one of the sandpits, half-filled it with dry bracken for my bed,
made a corner for my fire somewhere outside, and then had a good go in
at the rabbits and the fish; and there are plenty of pig-nuts and
truffles, if you know how to hunt for them. There are several places
where you can get mushrooms out in the open part among the furze where
the grass grows short; and then there's that kind that grows on the
oak-trees. You can trap birds, too, or knock over ducks that come down
the stream if you are lucky. I have several times got one with a bow
and arrow. Oh, there are lots of ways to keep from starving out in the
woods."

"Ah," said the lad feebly, "you are a country boy. I come from French
cities, and know nothing of these things."

"Oh!" said Waller thoughtfully. "What have you had to eat this
morning?"

The boy laughed sadly. "I have picked some leaves," he said.

"Picked some leaves!" cried Waller contemptuously. "Why didn't you hunt
for some of the hens' eggs? There are lots about here, half-wild, that
have strayed away from the farms and taken to the woods. Of course a
raw egg is not so good as one nicely cooked, but it would keep a fellow
from looking as bad as you do. Here, I say, I am sorry that I knocked
you about so. I didn't know that you were so bad as this."

"It doesn't matter now," was the reply. "You had better give me up to
the soldiers at once. I suppose they will give me something to eat. My
pride's all gone now, and I only want to get it over and bring it to an
end. It's very contemptible, I know, but it is very horrible, all the
same."

"What is?" said Waller quickly.

"To feel that you are starving to death."

"There, now you are talking nonsense," said Waller warmly. "Why, of
course it is. Who's going to starve to death? Here, I suppose I
oughtn't to help you?"

"No; I am an enemy. Give me up to the soldiers as quickly as you can