Holy Father himself is of avail. Still, whatever be
the true state of things, I should be well satisfied with an abbot's
absolution, and still more so by a bishop's; for though, were a great
prince concerned, someone interested might contest the matter, none
would be likely to do so in the case of a man-at-arms or an esquire."

"Very well, Roger. Then I will endeavour to obtain a full absolution
from your vows, by the abbot; and should he decline to give them I
will, when I next see the earl, pray him, in consideration of the good
services that you have rendered, to obtain it for you from the bishop."

"And you have not yourself thought of marrying, Oswald?" Adam Armstrong
said.

"Nay, Uncle. I came of age but a few days since, and it will be time to
think of taking me a wife four or five years hence. So, until these
troubles have wholly ceased, it were better, methinks, for a knight to
remain unwed than to take a wife, with the risk of leaving her a young
widow."

"In that case, Oswald, methinks there would be little marrying in
Northumberland; for, saving short truces, and these but ill observed,
there is ever trouble on the border."

"I speak not of that," Oswald replied. "Doubtless we shall always be
subject to border raids, on both sides, and even to serious wars
between the two countries; but I speak not of that, but of troubles in
England. 'Tis natural to fight when Englishmen and Scotchmen meet,
arrayed in battle; but when Englishmen meet Englishmen, 'tis terrible
indeed; and though the slaughter at Shrewsbury was great beyond
measure, who yet can say that the fire is extinguished? As long as one
may be called to arms again, by the earl, it is, in good sooth, better
to remain single than to have to ride to the wars, leaving the young
wife behind."

"Spoken very wisely and well, Oswald," Adam Armstrong laughed. "'Tis
well to argue as to policy; but such arguments go for nought, as soon
as a man's heart is fixed on any particular woman."

"It may be so, Uncle; but as I have never thought of marriage, I am
able to look at the matter dispassionately."

"Ah! Well, the time will come, Oswald, and you will then speedily come
to consider that there are other things than the reasonableness of
waiting to be considered.

"By the way, I trust that, should England invade Scotland again by the
valley of the Esk, you will not forget our debt to the Bairds. Though I
lamented the disaster at Homildon, where many of my