o Sir James Lee, and questioned him as to how the
bachelors were fitted with clothes. Myles listened, only half hearing
the words through the tumbling of his thoughts. He had dreamed in his
day-dreams that some time he might be knighted, but that time always
seemed very, very distant. To be knighted now, in his boyhood, by the
King, with the honors of the Bath, and under the patronage of the
Earl of Mackworth; to joust--to actually joust--with the Sieur de la
Montaigne, one of the most famous chevaliers of France! No wonder he
only half heard the words; half heard the Earl's questions concerning
his clothes and the discussion which followed; half heard Lord George
volunteer to array him in fitting garments from his own wardrobe.

"Thou mayst go now," said the Earl, at last turning to him. "But be thou
at George's apartments by two of the clock to be dressed fittingly for
the occasion."

Then Myles went out stupefied, dazed, bewildered. He looked around,
but he did not see Gascoyne. He said not a word to any of the others in
answer to the eager questions poured upon him by his fellow-squires,
but walked straight away. He hardly knew where he went, but by-and-by
he found himself in a grassy angle below the end of the south stable; a
spot overlooking the outer wall and the river beyond. He looked around;
no one was near, and he flung himself at length, burying his face in
his arms. How long he lay there he did not know, but suddenly some
one touched him upon the shoulder, and he sprang up quickly. It was
Gascoyne.

"What is to do, Myles?" said his friend, anxiously. "What is all this
talk I hear concerning thee up yonder at the armory?"

"Oh, Francis!" cried Myles, with a husky choking voice: "I am to be
knighted--by the King--by the King himself; and I--I am to fight the
Sieur de la Montaigne."

He reached out his hand, and Gascoyne took it. They stood for a while
quite silent, and when at last the stillness was broken, it was Gascoyne
who spoke, in a choking voice.

"Thou art going to be great, Myles," said he. "I always knew that it
must be so with thee, and now the time hath come. Yea, thou wilt be
great, and live at court amongst noble folk, and Kings haply. Presently
thou wilt not be with me any more, and wilt forget me by-and-by."

"Nay, Francis, never will I forget thee!" answered Myles, pressing
his friend's hand. "I will always love thee better than any one in the
world, saving only my father and my mothe