suggestion. Should I decide
to keep the matter secret, I will myself send him a message to that
effect, in such guise that he would not know whence it comes. And now, I
would fain reward you for what you have done for us; and," she went on,
seeing a flush suddenly mount upon the lad's face, as he made a half
step backwards, "before I saw you, had thought of offering you a purse
of gold, which, although it would but poorly reward your services, would
yet have proved useful to you when the time came for you to start as a
craftsman on your own account; but now that I have seen you, I feel that
although there are few who think themselves demeaned by accepting gifts
of money in reward for services, you would rather my gratitude took some
other form. It can only do that of offering you such good services that
I can render with Earl Talbot, should you ever choose the profession of
arms; and in the meantime, as a memento of the lives you have saved, you
will, I am sure, not refuse this chain," and she took a very handsome
one of gold from her neck; "the more so since it was the gift of her
majesty, our gracious queen to myself. She will, I am sure, acquit me of
parting with her gift when I tell her that I transferred it to one who
had saved the lives of myself and my daughter, and who was too proud to
accept other acknowledgment."

Colouring deeply, and with tears in his eyes at the kindness and
thoughtful consideration of the lady, Walter knelt on one knee before
her, and she placed round his neck the long gold chain which she had
been wearing.

"It is a knight's chain," the lady said, smiling, "and was part of the
spoil gained by King Edward from the French. Maybe," she added kindly,
"it will be worn by a knight again. Stranger things have happened, you
know."

Walter flushed again with pleasure.

"Maybe, lady," he said modestly, "even apprentices have their dreams,
and men-at-arms may always hope, by deeds of valour, to attain a
knight's spurs even though they may not be of noble blood or have served
as page and squire to a baron; but whether as a 'prentice or soldier, I
hope I shall never do discredit to your gift."

"Edith, come here," Dame Vernon said, "I have done talking now. And
what are you going to give this brave knight of ours who saved us from
drowning."

The girl looked thoughtfully at Walter. "I don't think you would care
for presents," she said; "and you look as if a sword or a horse would
suit you bet