u no tongue to answer, sirrah?"

"Be silent, Lee," said Lord Mackworth, quietly. "Let the lad have time
to think before he speaketh."

The sound of the words aroused Myles. He advanced to the table, and
rested his hand upon it. "My Lord--my Lord," said he, "I know not what
to say, I--I am amazed and afeard."

"How! how!" cried Sir James Lee, harshly. "Afeard, sayst thou? An thou
art afeard, thou knave, thou needst never look upon my face or speak to
me more! I have done with thee forever an thou art afeard even were the
champion a Sir Alisander."

"Peace, peace, Lee," said the Earl, holding up his hand. "Thou art too
hasty. The lad shall have his will in this matter, and thou and no one
shall constrain him. Methinks, also, thou dost not understand him. Speak
from thy heart, Myles; why art thou afraid?"

"Because," said Myles, "I am so young, sir; I am but a raw boy. How
should I dare be so hardy as to venture to set lance against such an one
as the Sieur de la Montaigne? What would I be but a laughing-stock for
all the world who would see me so foolish as to venture me against one
of such prowess and skill?"

"Nay, Myles," said Lord George, "thou thinkest not well enough of thine
own skill and prowess. Thinkest thou we would undertake to set thee
against him, an we did not think that thou couldst hold thine own fairly
well?"

"Hold mine own?" cried Myles, turning to Lord George. "Sir; thou dost
not mean--thou canst not mean, that I may hope or dream to hold mine own
against the Sieur de la Montaigne."

"Aye," said Lord George, "that was what I did mean."

"Come, Myles," said the Earl; "now tell me: wilt thou fight the Sieur de
la Montaigne?"

"Yea," said Myles, drawing himself to his full height and throwing out
his chest. "Yea," and his cheeks and forehead flushed red; "an thou bid
me do so, I will fight him."

"There spake my brave lad!" cried Lord George heartily.

"I give thee joy, Myles," said the Earl, reaching him his hand, which
Myles took and kissed. "And I give thee double joy. I have talked with
the King concerning thee this morning, and he hath consented to knight
thee--yea, to knight thee with all honors of the Bath--provided thou
wilt match thee against the Sieur de la Montaigne for the honor of
England and Mackworth. Just now the King lieth to sleep for a little
while after his dinner; have thyself in readiness when he cometh forth,
and I will have thee presented."

Then the Earl turned t