had found her aforetime very troublesome to him.
Why, when he was but a youth, he fell o' love with some fair damsel of
his mother's following, and should have wedded her, had not my Lady
Duchess, so soon as ever she knew it, packed her off to a nunnery."

"Wherefore?"

"That wis I not, without it were that she was not for him."
[Unsuitable.]

"Was the tale true, think you?"

"That wis I not likewise. Man said so much--behold all I know. Any
way, she harried him, and he loved it not, and here she is. That's
enough for me."

"Poor lady!"

"Poor? what for poor? She has all she can want. She is fed and clad as
well as ever she was--better, I dare guess, than when she was besieged
in Hennebon. If she would have broidery silks, or flowers, or any sort
of women's toys, she hath but to say, and my Lady my mother shall ride
to Derby for them. The King gave order she should be well used, and
well used she is. He desireth not that she be punished, but only kept
sure."

"I would guess that mere keeping in durance, with nought more to vex
her, were sorest suffering to one of her fashioning."

"But what more can she lack? Beside, she is only a woman."

"Women mostly live in and for their children, and your story sounds as
though hers cared little enough for her."

"Well! they know she is well treated; why should they harry them over
her? They be young, and would lead a jolly life, not to be tied for
ever to her apron-string."

"I would not use my mother thus."

"What wouldst? Lead her horse with thy bonnet doffed, and make a leg
afore her whenever she spake unto thee?"

"If it made her happy so to do, I would. Meseemeth I should be as well
employed in leading her horse as another, and could show my chivalry as
well towards mine old mother as any other lady. I were somewhat more
beholden to her of the twain, and God bade me not honour any other, but
He did her."

"_Ha, chetife_! 'Tis easier work honouring a fair damsel, with golden
hair and rose-leaf cheek, than a toothless old harridan that is for ever
plaguing thee."

"Belike the Lord knew that, and writ therefore His fifth command."

Godfrey did not answer, for his attention was diverted. Two well-laden
mules stood at the gate, and two men were coming up to the Manor House,
carrying a large pack--a somewhat exciting vision to country people in
the Middle Ages. There were then no such things as village shops, and
only in the largest and most im