e
lad, "I have tried thee fairly for these few days, and may say that I
have found thee worthy to be entered upon the rolls as esquire of the
body."

"I give thee thanks, sir," said Myles.

The knight nodded his head in acknowledgement, but did not at once give
the word of dismissal that Myles had expected. "Dost mean to write thee
a letter home soon?" said he, suddenly.

"Aye," said Myles, gaping in great wonderment at the strangeness of the
question.

"Then when thou dost so write," said Sir James, "give thou my deep
regards to thy father." Then he continued, after a brief pause. "Him did
I know well in times gone by, and we were right true friends in hearty
love, and for his sake I would befriend thee--that is, in so much as is
fitting."

"Sir," said Myles; but Sir James held up his hand, and he stopped short
in his thanks.

"But, boy," said he, "that which I sent for thee for to tell thee was of
more import than these. Dost thou know that thy father is an attainted
outlaw?"

"Nay," cried Myles, his cheeks blazing up as red as fire; "who sayeth
that of him lieth in his teeth."

"Thou dost mistake me," said Sir James, quietly. "It is sometimes no
shame to be outlawed and banned. Had it been so, I would not have told
thee thereof, nor have bidden thee send my true love to thy father, as
I did but now. But, boy, certes he standest continually in great
danger--greater than thou wottest of. Were it known where he lieth hid,
it might be to his undoing and utter ruin. Methought that belike thou
mightest not know that; and so I sent for thee for to tell thee that it
behoovest thee to say not one single word concerning him to any of these
new friends of thine, nor who he is, nor what he is."

"But how came my father to be so banned?" said Myles, in a constrained
and husky voice, and after a long time of silence.

"That I may not tell thee just now," said the old knight, "only
this--that I have been bidden to make it known to thee that thy father
hath an enemy full as powerful as my Lord the Earl himself, and
that through that enemy all his ill-fortune--his blindness and
everything--hath come. Moreover, did this enemy know where thy father
lieth, he would slay him right speedily."

"Sir," cried Myles, violently smiting his open palm upon the table,
"tell me who this man is, and I will kill him!"

Sir James smiled grimly. "Thou talkest like a boy," said he. "Wait until
thou art grown to be a man. Mayhap then th