"
The old dame flushed with pleasure, and then turned white with
vexation at the words. "It is in truth great honor to the house
of Loring," said she, "yet our roof is now humble and, as you have
seen, our fare is plain. The King knows not that we are so poor.
I fear lest we seem churlish and niggard in his eyes."
But Chandos reasoned away her fears. The King's retinue would
journey on to Farnham Castle. There were no ladies in his party.
Though he was King, still he was a hardy soldier, and cared little
for his ease. In any case, since he had declared his coming, they
must make the best of it. Finally, with all delicacy, Chandos
offered his own purse if it would help in the matter. But already
the Lady Ermyntrude had recovered her composure.
"Nay, fair kinsman, that may not be," said she. "I will make such
preparation as I may for the King. He will bear in mind that if
the house of Loring can give nothing else, they have always held
their blood and their lives at his disposal."
Chandos was to ride on to Farnham Castle and beyond, but he
expressed his desire to have a warm bath ere he left Tilford, for
like most of his fellow-knights, he was much addicted to simmering
in the hottest water that he could possibly endure. The bath
therefore, a high hooped arrangement like a broader but shorter
churn, was carried into the privacy of the guest-chamber, and
thither it was that Nigel was summoned to hold him company while
he stewed and sweltered in his tub.
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