l him
that a very humble knight of England abides here, so that if he be in
need of advancement, or have any small vow upon his soul, or desire to
exalt his lady, I may help him to accomplish it."

Aylward at this order came shuffling forward amid the trees, and in an
instant the two men were clinging in each other's arms, laughing and
shouting and patting each other in their delight; while old Sir Nigel
came running with his sword, under the impression that some small
bickering had broken out, only to embrace and be embraced himself,
until all three were hoarse with their questions and outcries and
congratulations.

On their journey home through the woods Alleyne learnt their
wondrous story: how, when Sir Nigel came to his senses, he with his
fellow-captive had been hurried to the coast, and conveyed by sea to
their captor's castle; how upon the way they had been taken by a Barbary
rover, and how they exchanged their light captivity for a seat on a
galley bench and hard labor at the pirate's oars; how, in the port at
Barbary, Sir Nigel had slain the Moorish captain, and had swum with
Aylward to a small coaster which they had taken, and so made their way
to England with a rich cargo to reward them for their toils. All this
Alleyne listened to, until the dark keep of Twynham towered above them
in the gloaming, and they saw the red sun lying athwart the rippling
Avon. No need to speak of the glad hearts at Twynham Castle that night,
nor of the rich offerings from out that Moorish cargo which found their
way to the chapel of Father Christopher.

Sir Nigel Loring lived for many years, full of honor and laden with
every blessing. He rode no more to the wars, but he found his way to
every jousting within thirty miles; and the Hampshire youth treasured
it as the highest honor when a word of praise fell from him as to their
management of their horses, or their breaking of their lances. So he
lived and so he died, the most revered and the happiest man in all his
native shire.

For Sir Alleyne Edricson and for his beautiful bride the future had also
naught but what was good. Twice he fought in France, and came back each
time laden with honors. A high place at court was given to him, and
he spent many years at Windsor under the second Richard and the fourth
Henry--where he received the honor of the Garter, and won the name of
being a brave soldier, a true-hearted gentleman, and a great lover and
patron of every art and scienc