g to his ear? Through you I have left the service of the
Abbey of Waverley, and where can I look now for a post? If I stay here I
am all undone like a fretted bow-string."

"Nay, there can be no difficulty there," said Chandos. "Pardieu! a
roistering, swaggering dare-devil archer is worth his price on the
French border. There are two hundred such who march behind my own
person, and I would ask nothing better than to see you among them."

"I thank you, noble sir, for your offer," said Aylward, "and I had
rather follow your banner than many another one, for it is well known
that it goes ever forward, and I have heard enough of the wars to know
that there are small pickings for the man who lags behind. Yet, if the
Squire will have me, I would choose to fight under the five roses of
Loring, for though I was born in the hundred of Easebourne and the rape
of Chichester, yet I have grown up and learned to use the longbow in
these parts, and as the free son of a free franklin I had rather serve
my own neighbor than a stranger."

"My good fellow," said Nigel, "I have told you that I could in no wise
reward you for such service."

"If you will but take me to the wars I will see to my own reward," said
Aylward. "Till then I ask for none, save a corner of your table and six
feet of your floor, for it is certain that the only reward I would get
from the Abbey for this day's work would be the scourge for my back and
the stocks for my ankles. Samkin Aylward is your man, Squire Nigel, from
this hour on, and by these ten finger-bones he trusts the Devil will
fly away with him if ever he gives you cause to regret it!" So saying he
raised his hand to his steel cap in salute, slung his great yellow bow
over his back, and followed on some paces in the rear of his new master.

"Pardieu! I have arrived a la bonne heure," said Chandos. "I rode from
Windsor and came to your manor house, to find it empty save for a fine
old dame, who told me of your troubles. From her I walked across to the
Abbey, and none too soon, for what with cloth-yard shafts for your
body, and bell, book and candle for your soul, it was no very cheerful
outlook. But here is the very dame herself, if I mistake not."

It was indeed the formidable figure of the Lady Ermyntrude, gaunt,
bowed and leaning on her staff, which had emerged from the door of the
manor-house and advanced to greet them. She croaked with laughter, and
shook her stick at the great building as she he