his brother and
his followers brought a continued course of novelty and delight; but
less joyously with the Knight's followers, who regretted more and more
the gay court of Bordeaux, and grew impatient at the prospect of
spending a tedious winter in a peaceful English castle.

Their anticipation of weariness, and the contrary expectations of Sir
Reginald, were destined to be equally disappointed: for two months had
not passed since his return before a summons arrived, or, more properly
speaking, an invitation to the trusty and well-beloved Sir Reginald
Lynwood to join the forces which the Duke of Lancaster was assembling
at Southampton, the Prince of Wales having promised to assist King
Pedro of Castile in recovering the kingdom from which he had been
driven by his brother Enrique of Trastamare.

Sir Reginald could not do otherwise than prepare with alacrity to obey
the call of his beloved Prince, though he marvelled that Edward should
draw his sword in the cause of such a monster of cruelty, and he was
more reluctant than ever before to leave his home. He even promised
his sorrowful Eleanor that this should be the last time he would leave
her. "I will but bestow Eustace in some honourable household, where he
may be trained in knightly lore--that of Chandos, perchance, or some
other of the leaders who hold the good old strict rule; find good
masters for my honest men-at-arms; break one more lance with Du
Guesclin; and take to rule my vassals, till my fields, and be the
honest old country Knight my father was before me. Said I well, Dame
Eleanor?"

Eleanor smiled, but the next moment sighed and drooped her head, while
a tear fell on the blue silk with which she was embroidering the
crosslet on his pennon. Sir Reginald might have said somewhat to cheer
her, but at that instant little Arthur darted into the hall with news
that the armourer was come from Taunton, with two mules, loaded with a
store of goodly helmets, swords, and corselets, which he was displaying
in the court.

The Knight immediately walked forth into the court, where all had been
activity and eagerness ever since the arrival of the summons, the smith
hammering ceaselessly in his forge, yet without fulfilling half the
order continually shouted in his ears; Gaston d'Aubricour and Ralph
Penrose directing from morning to night, in contradiction of each
other, the one always laughing, the other always grumbling; the
men-at-arms and retainers some obey