ere very welcome; and the Duchess said she would but wait till she
could learn there were no bands of the enemy at hand, to go down with me
herself to the place where she had sent the lady. A right worthy dame is
this same Duchess, and a stately; and that young King, as they call him,
seems hard to please, for he told Berry that his wife's courtliness and
ease in his reception were far above aught that he found here. What
he means is past a plain man, for as to Berry's wife she is handy, and
notable enough, and 'tis well he loves her so well; but what a little
brown thing it is, for a man to have gone through such risks for.
Nothing to look at beside his mother!'

'If you could only see Madame de Selinville!' sighed Philip; then--'Ah!
sir, you would know the worth of Eustacie had you seen her in yonder
town.'

'Very like!' said Sir Marmaduke; 'but after all our fears at home of a
fine court madam, it takes one aback to see a little homely brown thing,
clad like a serving wench. Well, Dame Nan will not be displeased, she
always said the girl would grow up no beauty, and 'tis the way of
women to brook none fairer than themselves! Better so. She is a good
Protestant, and has done rarely by you, Phil.'

'Truly, I might be glad 'twas no court madam that stood by me when Berry
was called back to the fight: and for the little one, 'tis the loveliest
and bravest little maid I ever saw. Have they told you of the marigolds,
father?'

'Why, the King told the whole to the Duchess, so Berry said, and then
drank the health of the daughter of the bravest of knights; and Berry
held her up in his arms to bow again, and drink to them from his glass.
Berry looked a proud man, I can tell you, and a comely, spite of his
baldness; and 'tis worth having come here to see how much you lads are
thought of--though to be sure 'tis not often the poor creatures here see
so much of an Englishman as we have made of Berry.'

Philip could not but laugh. ''Tis scarce for that that they value him,
sir.'

'Say you so? Nay, methinks his English heart and yours did them good
service. Indeed, the King himself told me as much by the mouth of
Merrycourt. May that youngster's head only not be turned! Why, they set
him at table above Berenger, and above half the King's gentlemen. Even
the Duchess makes as if he were one of her highest guests--he a poor
Oxford scholar, doubting if he can get his bread by the law, and flouted
as though he were not good enoug