yearning, now to hot wrath, and then to horror and dismay. In
his troubled sleep after the spectacle, he identified himself with the
lover, sang, wooed, and struggled in his person, woke with a start of
relief, to find Giles snoring safely beside him, and the watch-dog on
his chest instead of an expiring lady. He had not made unholy love to
sweet Dennet, nor imperilled her good name, nor slain his comrade. Nor
was she yet wedded to that oaf Giles! But she would be in a few weeks,
and then! How was he to brook the sight, chained as he was to the
Dragon court--see Giles lord it over her, and all of them, see her
missing the love that was burning for her elsewhere. Stephen lost his
boyhood on that evening, and, though force of habit kept him like
himself outwardly, he never was alone, without feeling dazed, and torn
in every direction at once.

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.

SWORD OR SMITHY.

"Darest thou be so valiant as to play the coward with thy indenture,
and to show it a fair pair of heels and run from it!"

_Shakespeare_.

Tidings came forth on the parting from the French King that the English
Court was about to move to Gravelines to pay a visit to the Emperor and
his aunt, the Duchess of Savoy. As it was hoped that jousts might make
part of the entertainment, the attendance of the Dragon party was
required. Giles was unfeignedly delighted at this extension of holiday,
Stephen felt that it deferred the day--would it be of strange joy or
pain?--of standing face to face with Dennet; and even Kit had come to
tolerate foreign parts more with Sir John Fulford to show him the way to
the best Flemish ale!

The knight took upon himself the conduct of the Dragons. He understood
how to lead them by routes where all provisions and ale had not been
consumed; and he knew how to swagger and threaten so as to obtain the
best of liquor and provisions at each _kermesse_--at least so he said,
though it might be doubted whether the Flemings might not have been more
willing to yield up their stores to Kit's open, honest face and free
hand.

However, Fulford seemed to consider himself one with the party; and he
beguiled the way by tales of the doings of the Badgers in Italy and
Savoy, which were listened to with avidity by the lads, distracting
Stephen from the pain at his heart, and filling both with excitement.
They were to have the honour of seeing the Badgers at Gravelines, where
they were encamped outside the cit