ing a strong effort not to betray the interest which she felt in the
fortunes of the young warrior, with whose fate, she had convinced
herself, since the rescue at Passe-Poulain, her own was strangely
intermingled.

'Wherefore,' continued Louis, 'I would fain, ere parting with them, give
them a token of my appreciation of their piety, and the courage they
have shown in hours of danger and disaster, as I have already admonished
them how to act towards their God and their neighbour. Kneel.'

And as they obeyed, Louis gave each of them three blows on the shoulder
with the flat of his weapon, mentioning the name of each, and repeating
the formula--'In the name of God, of St. Michael, and St. George, I dub
thee knight. Rise up, Sir Walter Espec, and Sir Guy Muschamp.'

And as Walter and Guy rose to their feet, blushing with this new and
unexpected honour, Louis added--

'And now you will accompany your king to England, and lose no time in
winning your spurs, so as to justify me, in the eyes of men, for having
thus distinguished you.'

'By St. George, cousin,' said Henry, laughing, 'I fear me that their
patience will be put to the test; for at present I have not an enemy
against whom to lead such redoubted warriors.'

'My lord and father,' said Prince Edward, interposing, 'if the young
knights will enter my service, I will undertake to find them enough of
work to keep their swords from rusting.'

'I doubt it not, Edward,' replied Henry, seriously, 'I doubt it not;'
and, turning to Louis, he added by way of explanation, 'I have gifted my
son with the principality of Wales, and recommended him to employ his
youth in bringing the natives to obedience; and I know enough of the
Welsh to be aware that he has before him an arduous duty. Now, young
gentlemen,' said he, addressing Guy and Walter, 'will you take service
with the prince, and go to war under his banner?'

'In truth, my lord,' answered Walter, 'nothing could be more to my mind
than so to do.'

'And what say you, most doughty warrior?' said Henry, looking towards
the heir of the Muschamps.

'My lord,' replied Guy, cheerfully, 'we are brothers in arms; and, as
says Walter, so say I.'

And when Henry and Queen Eleanor left Paris, and took leave of Louis and
his court at Chartres to return to Bordeaux, Walter Espec and Guy
Muschamp rode off in Prince Edward's train; Guy, laughing as he thought
how much his new dignity would add to his importance when he reached h