in the hour of need, yet may the man not take his own again;--y' are
weak, forsooth! Nay, then, if one cometh charging at you with a lance,
and crieth he is weak, ye must let him pierce your body through! Tut!
fool words!"

"And yet ye beat me not," returned Matcham.

"Let be," said Dick--"let be. I will instruct you. Y' have been
ill-nurtured, methinks, and yet ye have the makings of some good, and,
beyond all question, saved me from the river. Nay, I had forgotten it; I
am as thankless as thyself. But, come, let us on. An we be for Holywood
this night, ay, or to-morrow early, we had best set forward speedily."

But though Dick had talked himself back into his usual good-humour,
Matcham had forgiven him nothing. His violence, the recollection of the
forester whom he had slain--above all, the vision of the upraised belt,
were things not easily to be forgotten.

"I will thank you, for the form's sake," said Matcham. "But, in sooth,
good Master Shelton, I had liefer find my way alone. Here is a wide
wood; prithee, let each choose his path; I owe you a dinner and a
lesson. Fare ye well!"

"Nay," cried Dick, "if that be your tune, so be it, and a plague be with
you!"

Each turned aside, and they began walking off severally, with no thought
of the direction, intent solely on their quarrel. But Dick had not gone
ten paces ere his name was called, and Matcham came running after.

"Dick," he said, "it were unmannerly to part so coldly. Here is my hand,
and my heart with it. For all that wherein you have so excellently
served and helped me--not for the form, but from the heart, I thank you.
Fare ye right well."

"Well, lad," returned Dick, taking the hand which was offered him, "good
speed to you, if speed you may. But I misdoubt it shrewdly. Y' are too
disputatious."

So then they separated for the second time; and presently it was Dick
who was running after Matcham.

"Here," he said, "take my crossbow; shalt not go unarmed."

"A crossbow!" said Matcham. "Nay, boy, I have neither the strength to
bend nor yet the skill to aim with it. It were no help to me, good boy.
But yet I thank you."

The night had now fallen, and under the trees they could no longer read
each other's face.

"I will go some little way with you," said Dick. "The night is dark. I
would fain leave you on a path, at least. My mind misgiveth me, y' are
likely to be lost."

Without any more words he began to walk forward, and the other once mo