from under the
shaggy eyebrows.

As he ran across the quadrangle, his heart still fluttering in his
breast, he muttered to himself, "The old grizzle-beard; an I had not
faced him a bold front, mayhap he would have put such shame upon me
as he said. I wonder why he stood so staring after me as I left the
garden."

Then for the time the matter slipped from his mind, saving only that
part that smacked of adventure.

CHAPTER 20

So for a little while Myles was disposed to congratulate himself upon
having come off so well from his adventure with the Earl. But after a
day or two had passed, and he had time for second thought, he began to
misdoubt whether, after all, he might not have carried it with a better
air if he had shown more chivalrous boldness in the presence of his true
lady; whether it would not have redounded more to his credit if he had
in some way asserted his rights as the young dame's knight-errant and
defender. Was it not ignominious to resign his rights and privileges so
easily and tamely at a signal from the Earl?

"For, in sooth," said he to Gascoyne, as the two talked the matter over,
"she hath, in a certain way, accepted me for her knight, and yet I stood
me there without saying so much as one single word in her behalf."

"Nay," said Gascoyne, "I would not trouble me on that score. Methinks
that thou didst come off wondrous well out of the business. I would not
have thought it possible that my Lord could ha' been so patient with
thee as he showed himself. Methinks, forsooth, he must hold thee privily
in right high esteem."

"Truly," said Myles, after a little pause of meditative silence, "I know
not of any esteem, yet I do think he was passing patient with me in this
matter. But ne'theless, Francis, that changeth not my stand in the case.
Yea, I did shamefully, so to resign my lady without speaking one word;
nor will I so resign her even yet. I have bethought me much of this
matter of late, Francis, and now I come to thee to help me from my evil
case. I would have thee act the part of a true friend to me--like that
one I have told thee of in the story of the Emperor Justinian. I would
have thee, when next thou servest in the house, to so contrive that my
Lady Alice shall get a letter which I shall presently write, and wherein
I may set all that is crooked straight again."

"Heaven forbid," said Gascoyne, hastily, "that I should be such a fool
as to burn my fingers in drawing thy nuts from