to their work in the fields, and talked of holy
things, and how we should govern our Manors in time to come, and of
hunting and of horse-breeding, and of the King's wisdom and unwisdom; for
he spoke to us as though we were in all sorts now his brothers. Anon a
churl stole up to me--he was one of the three I had not hanged a year
ago--and he bellowed--which is the Saxon for whispering--that the Lady AElueva
would speak to me at the Great House. She walked abroad daily in the
Manor, and it was her custom to send me word whither she went, that I
might set an archer or two behind and in front to guard her. Very often I
myself lay up in the woods and watched on her also.

'I went swiftly, and as I passed the great door it opened from within, and
there stood my Lady AElueva, and she said to me: "Sir Richard, will it
please you enter your Great Hall?" Then she wept, but we were alone.'

The knight was silent for a long time, his face turned across the valley,
smiling.

'Oh, well done!' said Una, and clapped her hands very softly. 'She was
sorry, and she said so.'

'Aye, she was sorry, and she said so,' said Sir Richard, coming back with
a little start. 'Very soon--but _he_ said it was two full hours later--De
Aquila rode to the door, with his shield new scoured (Hugh had cleansed
it), and demanded entertainment, and called me a false knight, that would
starve his overlord to death. Then Hugh cried out that no man should work
in the valley that day, and our Saxons blew horns, and set about feasting
and drinking, and running of races, and dancing and singing; and De Aquila
climbed upon a horse-block and spoke to them in what he swore was good
Saxon, but no man understood it. At night we feasted in the Great Hall,
and when the harpers and the singers were gone we four sat late at the
high table. As I remember, it was a warm night with a full moon, and De
Aquila bade Hugh take down his sword from the wall again, for the honour
of the Manor of Dallington, and Hugh took it gladly enough. Dust lay on
the hilt, for I saw him blow it off.

'She and I sat talking a little apart, and at first we thought the harpers
had come back, for the Great Hall was filled with a rushing noise of
music. De Aquila leaped up; but there was only the moonlight fretty on the
floor.

'"Hearken!" said Hugh. "It is my sword," and as he belted it on the music
ceased.

'"Over Gods, forbid that I should ever belt blade like that," said De
Aquila. "What