Every one knows the disagreeable, lurking discomfort that followsa quarrel--a discomfort that imbitters the very taste of life forthe time being. Such was the dull distaste that Myles felt thatmorning after what had passed in the dormitory. Every one in theproximity of such an open quarrel feels a reflected constraint,and in Myles's mind was a disagreeable doubt whether thatconstraint meant disapproval of him or of his late enemies.
It seemed to him that Gascoyne added the last bitter twang to hisunpleasant feelings when, half an hour later, they marched withthe others to chapel.
"Why dost thou breed such trouble for thyself, Myles?" said he,recurring to what he had already said. "Is it not foolish forthee to come hither to this place, and then not submit to theways thereof, as the rest of us do?""Thou talkest not like a true friend to chide me thus," saidMyles, sullenly; and he withdrew his arm from his friend's.
"Marry, come up!" said Gascoyne; "an I were not thy friend, Iwould let thee jog thine own way. It aches not my bones to havethine drubbed."Just then they entered the chapel, and words that might have ledto a quarrel were brought to a close.
Myles was not slow to see that he had the ill will of the head oftheir company. That morning in the armory he had occasion to asksome question of Blunt; the head squire stared coldly at him fora moment, gave him a short, gruff answer, and then, turning hisback abruptly, began talking with one of the other bachelors.
Myles flushed hot at the other's insulting manner, and lookedquickly around to see if any of the others had observed what hadpassed. It was a comfort to him to see that all were too busyarming themselves to think of anything else; nevertheless, hisface was very lowering as he turned away.
"Some day I will show him that I am as good a man as he," hemuttered to himself. "An evil- hearted dog to put shame upon me!"The storm was brewing and ready to break.
That day was exceptionally hot and close, and permission had beenasked by and granted to those squires not on duty to go down tothe river for a bath after exercise at the pels. But as Mylesreplaced his arms in the rack, a little page came with a biddingto come to Sir James in his office.
"Look now," said Myles, "here is just my ill- fortune. Why mighthe not have waited an hour longer rather than cause me to missgoing with ye?""Nay," said Gascoyne, "let not that grieve thee, Myles. Wilkesand I will wait for thee in the dormitory--will we not, Edmund?
Make thou haste and go to Sir James."
Sir James was sitting at the table studying over a scroll ofparchment, when Myles entered his office and stood before him atthe table.
"Well, boy," said he, laying aside the parchment and looking upat the lad, "I have tried thee fairly for these few days, and maysay that I have found thee worthy to be entered upon the rolls asesquire of the body.""I give thee thanks, sir," said Myles.
The knight nodded his head in acknowledgement, but did not atonce give the word of dismissal that Myles had expected. "Dostmean to write thee a letter home soon?" said he, suddenly.
"Aye," said Myles, gaping in great wonderment at the strangenessof the question.
"Then when thou dost so write," said Sir James, "give thou mydeep regards to thy father." Then he continued, after a briefpause. "Him did I know well in times gone by, and we were righttrue friends in hearty love, and for his sake I would befriendthee--that is, in so much as is fitting.""Sir," said Myles; but Sir James held up his hand, and he stoppedshort in his thanks.
"But, boy," said he, "that which I sent for thee for to tell theewas of more import than these. Dost thou know that thy father isan attainted outlaw?""Nay," cried Myles, his cheeks blazing up as red as fire; "whosayeth that of him lieth in his teeth.""Thou dost mistake me," said Sir James, quietly. "It is sometimesno shame to be outlawed and banned. Had it been so, I would nothave told thee thereof, nor have bidden thee send my true love tothy father, as I did but now. But, boy, certes he standestcontinually in great danger-- greater than thou wottest of. Wereit known where he lieth hid, it might be to his undoing and utterruin. Methought that belike thou mightest not know that; and so Isent for thee for to tell thee that it behoovest thee to say notone single word concerning him to any of these new friends ofthine, nor who he is, nor what he is.""But how came my father to be so banned?" said Myles, in aconstrained and husky voice, and after a long time of silence.
"That I may not tell thee just now," said the old knight, "onlythis--that I have been bidden to make it known to thee that thyfather hath an enemy full as powerful as my Lord the Earlhimself, and that through that enemy all his ill-fortune --hisblindness and everything--hath come. Moreover, did this enemyknow where thy father lieth, he would slay him right speedily.""Sir," cried Myles, violently smiting his open palm upon thetable, "tell me who this man is, and I will kill him!"Sir James smiled grimly. "Thou talkest like a boy," said he.
