ind up and plaster the bruised face
with the skill and dexterity of which she was mistress. She had no
attention to spare for Julian, or she might have been surprised to
note that he secreted for himself a certain amount of the dressing
she had used, and looked on very intently whilst she applied the
remainder to his brother's face.

When her ministrations were accomplished, Edred was greatly
disguised. His face was almost entirely swathed in linen, and one
eye was completely bandaged up. Julian laughed aloud as he saw the
object presented by his brother; and Edred would have joined in the
laugh if he had had free play with his facial muscles.

The mother looked gently scandalized.

"Sure, it is no laughing matter, Julian. I am not wont to make much
of these boyish mischiefs. Lads must learn to give and to take hard
blows as they grow to manhood. Yet I would that thou wert something
more careful. Thou mightest have killed thy brother, or have caused
him life-long injury, today."

Julian looked grave enough then; but Edred caressed his mother
gently, saying:

"Nay, chide him not. He is the best of brothers. It was as much my
fault as his."

And then the pair went away together, and did not pause until they
had reached their own room, when they suddenly seized each other by
the hand and commenced cutting extraordinary capers, indicative of
a secret understanding and triumph.

"It could not have turned out better," said Edred, speaking stiffly
with his bandaged face and swollen lips.

"I fear me thou dost suffer somewhat."

"It is naught. I scarce feel it, now mother has bound it up. And
thy stroke was wondrous skilful, Julian--brow and eye and mouth all
scratched."

"The praise should be thine for standing thus rigid to let me thus
mark thee. Hadst thou flinched, as many another would have done--as
I should have done, I trow--it could not have been done a tithe as
well. Wrapped and bandaged as thou must be these next days to come,
not a creature could know thee. Everything can be carried out
according to the plan. Not even our father will suspect aught. The
only fear is lest thou shouldst take a fever or somewhat of that
sort, so that they say thou must not ride forth a few miles with
our father when he fares forth to Windsor at the dawning of the
next morrow after tomorrow's dawn."

"No fear of that," answered Edred boldly. "I am not wont to trouble
a sickbed. I have had knocks and blows as hard as this b