"Your mother is wholly of opinion that I have done enough of fighting
for my life, and should trouble myself no longer with raidings and
wars. Your mother has shown sound judgment, and her advice has
generally been good; though I never fully recognized this, till I saw
what great good had come of her wishing you to learn to read and write;
for it is to that, to no small extent, that you owe your rapid rise and
present dignity."

Accordingly, a few days later, Oswald rode with his father to
Warkworth, to which castle the earl had returned after his visit to
England. At the request of John Forster he received back the feu from
him, and appointed his son to it. This done, Oswald rode to pay a visit
to his cousins; while his father returned to Yardhope, with two
retainers he had brought with him.

Oswald had not seen Adam Armstrong, since the latter had come to
Yardhope after the rescue of his daughters; and he was received by him
with the greatest warmth, as also by Allan, who, although now nearly
recovered from his wounds, had, fortunately for himself, not gained
sufficient strength to be able to accompany Douglas, either to Homildon
or in his march into England to join Percy.

The girls were out when he rode up; but, upon their return, both showed
the greatest pleasure, Jessie being the most demonstrative in her
welcome.

"It has always been a sore subject with me, Oswald," Allan said, "that
you should have ridden away in that gallant enterprise to rescue my
sisters, while I was lying here helpless; and knew, indeed, nought of
it, until after you had taken them safely to Yardhope.

"Ah! Roger, I am glad to see you again; and to thank you, too, for the
share you took in it."

"In faith, Master Allan, there are no great thanks due. It was but a
poor affair, and I had but one opportunity, and that not worth naming,
of striking a hearty blow. It seems to me that these things are never
fairly divided. Both in that adventure, and at Homildon, I scarce
struck a blow; while in that affair in Wales, and at Shrewsbury, there
was even more fighting than I cared for. I had to be nursed like a
child after the first, and I am still stiff from the wounds that I got
in the second.

"There should be reason in such matters. It vexed me sorely that we had
to ride away from the Bairds, without striking a few good blows in part
payment of their raid here."

"I am very glad that you did not have to do so," Janet said. "I think
ther