imself. He also bade them leave their fardels behind, as, if they
tarried at York House, these could be easily sent after them.

They obeyed--even Stephen doing so with more alacrity than he had
hitherto shown to Master Headley's behests; for now that the time for
departure had come, he was really sorry to leave the armourer's
household. Edmund Burgess had been very good-natured to the raw country
lad, and Kit Smallbones was, in his eyes, an Ascapart in strength, and a
Bevis in prowess and kindliness. Mistress Headley too had been kind to
the orphan lads, and these two days had given a feeling of being at home
at the Dragon. When Giles wished them a moody farewell, and wished he
were going with them, Stephen returned, "Ah! you don't know when you are
well off."

Little Dennet came running down after them with two pinks in her hands.
"Here's a sop-in-wine for a token for each of you young gentlemen," she
cried, "for you came to help father, and I would you were going to stay
and wed me instead of Giles."

"What, both of us, little maid?" said Ambrose, laughing, as he stooped
to receive the kiss her rosy lips tendered to him.

"Not but what she would have royal example," muttered Tibble aside.

Dennet put her head on one side, as considering. "Nay, not both; but
you are gentle and courteous, and he is brave and gallant--and Giles
there is moody and glum, and can do nought."

"Ah! you will see what a gallant fellow Giles can be when thou hast
cured him of his home-sickness by being good to him," said Ambrose,
sorry for the youth in the universal laughter at the child's plain
speaking.

And thus the lads left the Dragon, amid friendly farewells. Ambrose
looked up at the tall spire of Saint Paul's with a strong determination
that he would never put himself out of reach of such words as he had
there drunk in, and which were indeed spirit and life to him.

Tibble took them down to the Saint Paul's stairs on the river, where at
his whistle a wherry was instantly brought to transport them to York
stairs, only one of the smiths going any further in charge of the
corslets. Very lovely was their voyage in the brilliant summer morning,
as the glittering water reflected in broken ripples church spire,
convent garden, and stately house. Here rows of elm-trees made a cool
walk by the river side, there strawberry beds sloped down the Strand,
and now and then the hooded figures of nuns might be seen gathering the
fruit.