"You have a fashion of speech which carries me
back to the old men whom I met in my boyhood," said he. "There
were some of the real old knight-errants left in those days, and
they spoke as you do. Young as you are, you belong to another
age. Where got you that trick of thought and word?"
"I have had only one to teach me, the Lady Ermyntrude."
"Pardieu! she has trained a proper young hawk ready to stoop at a
lordly quarry," said Chandos. "I would that I had the first
unhooding of you. Will you not ride with me to the wars?"
The tears brimmed over from Nigel's eyes, and he wrung the gaunt
hand extended from the bath. "By Saint Paul! what could I ask
better in the world? I fear to leave her, for she has none other
to care for her. But if it can in any way be arranged--"
"The King's hand may smooth it out. Say no more until he is here.
But if you wish to ride with me--"
"What could man wish for more? Is there a Squire in England who
would not serve under the banner of Chandos! Whither do you go,
fair sir? And when do you go? Is it to Scotland? Is it to
Ireland? Is it to France? But alas, alas!"
The eager face had clouded. For the instant he had forgotten that
a suit of armor was as much beyond his means as a service of gold
plate. Down in a twinkling came all his high hopes to the ground.
Oh, these sordid material things, which come between our dreams
and their fulfilment! The Squire of such a knight must dress with
the best.
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