ss pretentious
style--afoot.

"By Heaven!" said Frederick, "and they stop not coming in such numbers
we knights shall be compelled to withdraw us from the field and leave
it to the tradesmen."

"Come," said I, "'tis time that we should arm. What ho! Michael!
where the devil art thou?" Michael, contrary to his habit, did not
appear when I called. I walked to the tent door and called again.
Then, as I looked beyond the barriers that kept the spectators from
crowding into the space reserved for the tents of the knights, I saw
him just leaving two old ladies, after having procured for them
comfortable seats, in a position from where their eyes commanded an
excellent view of the field; and being in that part opposite to where
sat the King. I stood in the doorway, awaiting Michael's return, and
wondering who the old ladies were to whom he showed such attention.

When Michael, as he hurried back, raised his eyes and beheld me gazing
at him, I heard him mutter, in his short, quick way, which ever so
amused me:--"Hill!"

When he came up to me he said:--"Pardon sor; but sor, thim ladies, Oi'm
jist after asittin' down, is friends o' a wourthy and gallant knoight
who hath ivir bin most koind to a poor orphan loike moysilf, sor; and
they axed me to foind me a sate fer thim, sor, and Oi hadn't the heart
to refuse thim, sor; though had Oi known that yer honour wanted me so
soon Oi'd have bin a dale quicker than Oi was, sor."

"I knew not that thou wert known so well among the knighthood of
England," I answered with a smile. "But come, Michael, thou needst not
to crave pardon of Sir Walter Bradley when thou dost serve such a noble
purpose. The ladies, whether known to us or not, come before all true
knights or gentlemen; and 'tis when we pay respect to them that we do
ennoble ourselves."

"Yis sor," said Michael, as he buckled on my breast plate. "Oi knew
that yer honour would pardon me fer lavin' ye, whin Oi tould what moine
errand was." This as he buckled on a shoulder-piece.

"Uh! what a pity, sor, to have sich armour, with all that gould in it,
dinted with the pint o' a spear," said he, when he had fastened on all
but my helm.

The trumpets now sounded a warning blast, and the heralds rode forth
and entered the lists at the southern extremity, all their gay
trappings tossing in the pleasant morning wind.

Michael, after finishing his employment, by fastening on my sword and
lacing my splendid head-piece, went t