was a
disagreeable doubt whether that constraint meant disapproval of him or
of his late enemies.

It seemed to him that Gascoyne added the last bitter twang to his
unpleasant feelings when, half an hour later, they marched with the
others to chapel.

"Why dost thou breed such trouble for thyself, Myles?" said he,
recurring to what he had already said. "Is it not foolish for thee to
come hither to this place, and then not submit to the ways thereof, as
the rest of us do?"

"Thou talkest not like a true friend to chide me thus," said Myles,
sullenly; and he withdrew his arm from his friend's.

"Marry, come up!" said Gascoyne; "an I were not thy friend, I would let
thee jog thine own way. It aches not my bones to have thine drubbed."

Just then they entered the chapel, and words that might have led to a
quarrel were brought to a close.

Myles was not slow to see that he had the ill will of the head of their
company. That morning in the armory he had occasion to ask some question
of Blunt; the head squire stared coldly at him for a moment, gave him a
short, gruff answer, and then, turning his back abruptly, began talking
with one of the other bachelors. Myles flushed hot at the other's
insulting manner, and looked quickly around to see if any of the others
had observed what had passed. It was a comfort to him to see that all
were too busy arming themselves to think of anything else; nevertheless,
his face was very lowering as he turned away.

"Some day I will show him that I am as good a man as he," he muttered to
himself. "An evil-hearted dog to put shame upon me!"

The storm was brewing and ready to break.

That day was exceptionally hot and close, and permission had been asked
by and granted to those squires not on duty to go down to the river for
a bath after exercise at the pels. But as Myles replaced his arms in
the rack, a little page came with a bidding to come to Sir James in his
office.

"Look now," said Myles, "here is just my ill-fortune. Why might he not
have waited an hour longer rather than cause me to miss going with ye?"

"Nay," said Gascoyne, "let not that grieve thee, Myles. Wilkes and I
will wait for thee in the dormitory--will we not, Edmund? Make thou
haste and go to Sir James."

Sir James was sitting at the table studying over a scroll of parchment,
when Myles entered his office and stood before him at the table.

"Well, boy," said he, laying aside the parchment and looking up at th