 CHAPTER XI. The two friends kept the secret of the Aerie to themselves for a little while. Now and then, visiting the old tower to rummage among the lumber stored in the lower room, they should loiter away the afternoon in the windy solitudes of the upper heights. And in that little time, when the ancient keep was to them a small world unknown to any but themselves, a world far away above all the dull matters of everyday life, they talked of many things that might else never have been known to one another. Mostly they spoke the crude romantic thoughts and desires of boyhood's time. Chaph thrones the wind, in which, however, lay a few stray seeds fated to fall to good earth, and to ripen to fruition in manhood's day. In the intimate talks of that time, Miles imparted something of his honest solidity to Gascoigne's somewhat weather-cog nature, and to Miles' rudor and more uncouth character, Gascoigne lent a tone of his gentler manners, learned in his page of service as attendant upon the Countess and her ladies. In other things, also, the character and experience of the one lad helped to supply what was lacking in the other. Miles was replete with old Latin guests, fables, and sermons, picked up during his school life in those intervals of his more serious studies when prior Edward had permitted him to browse in the greener pastures of the Guestaromenarum and the Disciplina clericalis of the monastery library. And Gascoigne was never weary of hearing him tell those marvellous stories, culled from the crabbed Latin of the old manuscript volumes. On his part, Gascoigne was full of the lore of the waiting room and the anti-chamber, and Miles, who in all his life had never known a lady, young or old, accepting his mother, was never tired of lying silently listening to Gascoigne's chatter of the gay doings of the castle gentle life, in which he had taken part so often in the merry days of his pagehood. I do wonder, said Miles, quaintly, that thou couldst ever find the courage to bespeak a young maid, Francis. Nor did I do so, nor ever could, rather would I face three strong men than one young damsel. Whereupon Gascoigne burst out laughing, Mary, quoth he, they be no such terrible things, but gentle and pleasant-spoken, and soft and smooth as any cat. No matter for that, said Miles, I would not face one such for worlds. It was during the short time when, so to speak, the two owned the soliditude of the British tower, that Miles told his friend of his father's outlawry and of the peril in which the family stood, and thus it was. I do marvel, said Gascoigne one day, as the two lay stretched in the airy, looking down into the castle courtyard below. I do marvel now that thou art established here this month and more, that my Lord Doth never have called thee to service upon household duty. Hence thou riddle me wide as so, Miles. The subject was a very sore one with Miles. Until Sir James had told him of the matter in his office that day, he had never known that his father was attained an outlawd. He had accepted the change from their early estate and the bold poverty of their life at Crosby Holt, with the easy carelessness of boyhood, and Sir James's words were the first to awaken him to a realisation of the misfortunes of the House of Fourworth. His was a brooding nature, and in the three or four weeks that passed, he had meditated so much over what had been told him, that by and by, it almost seemed as if a shadow of shame rested upon his father's fair fame, even though the attained set upon him was unrighteous and unjust, as Miles knew it must be. He had felt angry and resentful at the earl's neglect, and as days passed, and he was not noticed in any way, his heart was at times very bitter. So now, Gascoigne's innocent question touched us all spot, and Miles spoke with a sharp, angry pain in his voice that made the other look quickly up. Sooner would my lord have Yonder Swineherd serve him in the household than me, said he. Why may that be, Miles? said Gascoigne. Because, answered Miles with the same angry bitterness in his voice, either the earl is a coward that feareth the befriend me, or else he is a Catef, ashamed of his own flesh and blood, and of me, the son of his one-time comrade. Gascoigne raised himself upon his elbow, and opened his eyes wide in wonder. A fear of thee, Miles, quoth he? Why should he be a fear to befriend thee? Who art thou that the earl should fear thee? Miles hesitated for a moment or two. Wisdom bade him remain silent upon the dangerous topic, but his heart yearned for sympathy and companionship in his trouble. I will tell thee, said he, suddenly, and therewith poured out all of the story, so far as he knew it, to his listening, wandering friend, and his heart felt lighter to be thus eased of its burden. And now, said he, as he concluded, is not this earl a mean-hearted Catef to leave me, the son of his one-time friend and kinsman, thus to stand or fall alone among strangers and in a strange place without once stretching me a helping hand? He waited, and Gascoigne knew that he expected an answer. I know not that he is a mean-hearted Catef, Miles, said he at last, hesitatingly. The earl had many enemies, and I had heard that he had stood more than once in peril, having been accused of dealings with the king's foes. He was cousin to the earl of Kent, and I do remember hearing that he had a narrow escape at that time from ruin. There be more reasons than now whatest of why he should not have dealings with thy father. I had not thought, said Miles, bitterly, after a little pause, that thou would stand up for him and against me in this quarrel, Gascoigne. Him will I never forgive so long as I may live, and I had thought that thou wouldst have stood by me. So do I, said Gascoigne, hastily, and do love thee more than anyone in all the world, Miles. But I had thought it would make thee feel more easy to think that the earl was not against thee, and indeed, from all thou hast told me, I do soothly think that he and Sir James mean to befriend thee, and hold thee privily in kind regard. Then why doth he not stand forth like a man, and befriend me and my father openly, even if it be to his own peril? said Miles, reverting stubbornly to what he had first spoken. Gascoigne did not answer, but lay for a long while in silence. Knowest thou, he suddenly asked, after a while, who is this great enemy of whom Sir James speaketh, and who seeketh so to drive thy father to ruin? Nay, said Miles, I know not, for my father hath never spoken of these things, and Sir James would not tell me. But this I know, said he, suddenly grinding his teeth together. And I do not hunt him out some day and slay him like a dog. He stopped abruptly, and Gascoigne, looking at scans at him, saw that his eyes were full of tears, whereupon he turned his looks away again quickly, and felt a shooting pebbles out through the open window with his finger and thumb. Thou wilt still know one of these things I have said, said Miles, after a while? Not I, said Gascoigne. Thinkest thou I could do such a thing? Nay, said Miles briefly. Perhaps this talk, more than anything else that had ever passed between them, knit the two friends closer together. For, as I have said, Miles felt easier now that he had poured out his bitter thoughts and words, and as for Gascoigne, I think there is nothing so flattering to one's soul as to be made at the confidant of a stronger nature. But the old tower served another purpose than that of a spot in which to pass away a few idle hours, or in which to indulge the confidant as a friendship. For it was there that Miles gathered a backing of strength for resistance against the tyranny of the bachelors. And it is for that, more than any other reason, that it has been told how they found the place, and of what they did there, feeling secure against interruption. Miles Vorworth was not of a kind that forgets or neglects the thing upon which the mind has once been set. Perhaps this chief objective, since the talk with Sir James, following his fight in the dormitory, had been successful resistance to the exactions of the head of the body of Squires. He was now, more than a month had passed, looked upon by nearly, if not all, the younger lads as an acknowledged leader in his own class. So one day he bridged a matter to Gascoigne that had for some time been digesting in his mind. It was the formation of a secret order, calling themselves the Knights of the Rose, their meeting place to be the chapel of the Brutus Tower, and their object to be the writing of Rong's, as they, said Miles, of Arthur his round table, did write Rong's. But Prithee, what Rong's are there to write in this place, quoth Gascoigne, after listening intently to the plan which Miles set forth? Why, first of all, this, said Miles, clinching his fists, as he had a habit of doing when anything stirred him deeply, that we set those vile bachelors to their right place, and that is, that they be no longer our masters but our fellows. Gascoigne shook his head. He hated clashing and conflict above all things, and was for peace. Why should they thus rush to thrust themselves into trouble? Let matters abide as they were a little longer. Surely life was pleasant enough without turning it all topsy-turvy. Then, with a sort of indignation, why should Miles, who would only come among them a month, take such service more to heart than they who had endured it for years? And finally, with the hopefulness of so many of the rest of us, he advised Miles to let matters alone, and they would write themselves in time. But Miles' mind was determined. His active spirit could not brook resting passively under a Rong. He would endure no longer, and now or never, he must make their stand. But look thee, Miles Foreworth, said Gascoigne. All this is not to be done without and fighting shrewdly. Wilt thou take that fighting upon thine own self? As for me, I tell thee I love it not. Why, I said Miles. I ask no man to do what I will not do myself. Gascoigne shrugged his shoulders. So beard, said he, and now hast appetite to run thy head against hard knocks, do it in Miles' name. I, for one, will stand thee back while they are taking thy wraps. There was a spirit of drollery in Gascoigne's speech that rubbed against Miles' earnestness. Out upon it, cried he, his patience giving way, seeest not that I am in serious earnest? Why, then, dost thou still jest like mad knoll, my lord's fool? And thou wilt not lend me thine aid in this matter? Say so, and had done with it, and I will but think me of somewhere else to turn. Then Gascoigne yielded it once, as he always did when his friend lost his temper, and having once assented to it, entered into the scheme heart and soul. Three other lads, one of them that tall thin squire Edmund Wilkes, before spoken of, were sounded upon the subject. They also entered into the plan of the secret organization with an enthusiasm which might perhaps not have been quite so glowing had they realized how very soon Miles designed embarking upon active practical operations. One day, Miles and Gascoigne showed them the strange things that they had discovered in the old tower, the inner staircases, the winding passageways, the queer niches and cupboard, and the black shaft of a well that pierced down into the solid wall, and wence, perhaps, the old castle folk had one time drawn their supply of water in time of siege, and with every new wonder of the marvellous place, the enthusiasm of the three recruits rose higher and higher. They rummaged through the lumber pile in the great circular room, as Miles and Gascoigne had done, and at last, tired out, they ascended to the airy chapel, and sat there cooling themselves in the rustling freshness of the breeze that came blowing briskly in through the arched windows. It was then and there that the five discussed and finally determined upon the detailed plans of their organization, canvassing the names of the squirehood, and selecting from it a sufficient number of bold and daring spirits to make up a roll of twenty names in all. Gascoigne had, as I said, entered into the matter with spirit, and perhaps it was owing more to him than to any other that the project caught its delightful flavour of romance. Perchance said he, as the five lads lay in the rustling stillness through which sounded the mud-knotness and ceaseless cooing of the pigeons. Perchance there may be dwarves and giants and dragons and enchanters, and evil knights and whatnot even nowadays. And who knows, but if we knights of the rose hold together, we may go forth into the world and do battle with them, and save beautiful ladies, and have tales and guests written about us, as they are written about the seven champions and Arthur his round table. Perhaps Miles, who lay silently listening to all that was said, was the only one who looked upon the scheme at all in the light of real utility, but I think that even with him, the fun of the matter, had weighed the serious part of the business. So it was that the sacred order of the twenty knights of the rose came to be initiated. They appointed a code of secret passwords and counter-signs which were very difficult to remember and which were only used when they might excite the curiosity of the other and uninitiated boys by their mysterious sound. They elected Miles as their grand high commander and held secret meetings in the ancient tower, where many mysteries were soberly enacted. Of course in a day or two all the body of squires knew nearly everything concerning the knights of the rose and of their secret meetings in the old tower. The lucky twenty were the objects of envy of all not so fortunate as to be included in this number, and there was a market air of secrecy about everything they did that appealed to every romantic notion of the youngsters looking on. What was the stormy outcome of it all is now presently to be told. End of Chapter 11 Chapter 12 of Men of Iron This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please contact LibriVox.org. Recording by Jonathan Feldman Men of Iron by Howard Pyle Chapter 12 Thus it was that Miles with an eye to open war with the bachelors gathered a following to his support. It was some little while before matters were brought to a crisis a week or 10 days. Perhaps even Miles had no great desire to hasten matters. He knew that whenever war was declared he himself would have to bear the brunt of the battle, and even the bravest man hesitates before deliberately thrusting himself into a fight. One morning Miles and Gascoigne and Wilkes sat under the shade of two trees between which was a board nailed to the trunks making a rude bench always a favorite lounging place for the lads in idle moments. Miles was polishing his bassinet with lard and wood ashes rubbing metal with a piece of leather and wiping it clean with a fustion rag. The other two who had just been relieved from household duty laid length idly looking on. Just then one of the smaller pages a boy of 12 or 13 by name Robin Ingoldsby crossed the cord. He had been crying his face was red and blubbered and his body was still shaken with convulsive sniffs. Miles looked up. Come here the Robin he called from where he sat. What is to do? The little fellow came slowly up to where the three rested in the shade. Moe Bray beat me with a strap said he rubbing his sleeve across his eyes and catching his breath at the recollection. Beat thee did say said Miles drawing his brows together. Why did he beat thee? Because said Robin I tarried overlong in fetching a pot of beer from the butlery for him and wired. Then with a boy's sudden and easy quickness and forgetting past troubles tell me for a worth said he when wilt thou give me that knife thou promised me the one thou break the blade of yesterday. I know not said Miles bluntly vexed that the boy did not take the disgrace of his beating mortar heart. Sometimes soon may have. Me thinks thou should stick more of thy beating than of a broken knife. Now get thee gone to thy business. The youngster lingered for a moment or two watching Miles at his work. What is that on the leather scrap for worth said he curiously. Lord and ashes said Miles testily get thee gone I say or I will crack thy head for thee and he picked up a block of wood with a threatening gesture. The youngster made a hideous grimace and then scurried away ducking his head. Lest in spite of Miles' well known good nature the block should come whizzing after him. Hear ye that now cried Miles flinging down the block again and turning to his two friends. Beaten with straps because for sooth he would not fetch and carry quickly enough to please the haste of these bachelors. O this passeth patience and I for one will bear it no longer. Nay Miles said Gascoigne soothingly. The little imp is as lazy as a doormouth and as mischievous as a monkey. O warrant the hiding was his due and that more of the like would do him good. Why how thou dost talk Francis said Miles turning upon him indignantly. Thou knowest that thou likeest to see the boy beaten no more than I. Then after a meditative pause how many think ye we muster of our company of the rose today. Wilkes looked doubtfully at Gascoigne. There be only 17 of us here now said he at last. Brinton and Lamburn are away to Roby Castle in Lord George's train and will not be back till Saturday next and what Newton is in the infirmary. 17 beest enough said Miles grimly. Let us get together this afternoon such as may in the Brutus Tower for I as I did say will no longer suffer these vile bachelors. Gascoigne and Wilkes exchanged looks and the former blew a long whistle. So that afternoon a gloomy set of young faces were gathered together in the airy. 15 of the Knights of the Rose and all knew why they were assembled. The talk which followed was conducted mostly by Miles. He addressed the others with a straightforward whim and earnestness but the response was only half-hearted. And when at last having heated himself up with his own fire he sat down puffing out his red cheeks and glaring around a space of silence followed. The lads looked doubtfully at one another. Miles felt the chill of their silence strike coldly on his enthusiasm and it vexed him. What would they do for Worth said one of the Knights at last? Wouldst have an open quarrel with the bachelors? Nay said Miles gruffly. I had thought that you would all lend me a hand in a pitched battle but now I see that you had no stomach for that. Nevertheless I tell you plainly I will not submit longer to the bachelors. So now I will ask you not to take any venture upon yourselves but only this that you will stand by me when I do my fighting and not let five or seven of them fall upon me at once. There is was a blunt he is parlour strong said one of the others after a time of silence. Me thinks he could conquer any two of us. Nay said Miles you do fear him too greatly. I tell you I fear not to stand up to try battle with him and will do so if the need arise. Only say ye that you will stand by my back. Marry said Gascoigne quaintly and thou wilt dare take the heavy end upon thee. I for one am willing to stand by and see that thou have thy fill of fighting. I too will stand by thee Miles said Edmund Wilkes and I and I and I said others chiming in. Those who would still have held back were carried along by the stream and so it was settled that if the need should arise for Miles to do a bit of fighting the others should stand by to see that he had fair play. When thinkest thou that they will take thy stand against the Miles asked Wilkes Miles hesitated a moment tomorrow said he grimly several of the lads whistled softly Gascoigne was prepared for an early opening of the wall but perhaps not for such an early opening as this by a lady Miles thou art hungry for a brawling said he end of chapter 12 chapter 13 of men of iron this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Kevin Kivico Arlington Heights Illinois men of iron by Howard Pyle chapter 13 after the first excitement of meeting discussing and deciding had passed Miles began to feel the weight of the load he had so boldly taken upon himself he began to reckon what a serious thing it was for him to stand as a single champion against the tyranny that had grown so strong through years of custom had he let himself do so he might almost have repented but it was too late now for repentance he had laid his hand to the plow and he must drive the furrow somehow the news of impending battle had leaked out among the rest of the body of squires and a buzz of suppressed excitement hummed through the dormitory that evening the bachelors to whom no doubt vague rumors had been blown looked lowering and talked together in low voices standing apart in a group some of them made a rather marked show of secreting knives in the straw of their beds and no doubt it had its effect upon more than one young heart that secretly thrilled at the sight of shining blades however all was undisturbed that evening the lights were put out and the lads retired with more than usual quietness only for the murmur of whispering all night Miles's sleep was more or less disturbed by dreams in which he was now conquering now being conquered and before the day had fairly broken he was awake he lay upon his cot keying himself up for the encounter which he had set upon himself to face and it would not be the truth to say that the sight of those knives hidden in the straw the night before had made no impression upon him by and by he knew the others were beginning to awake for he heard them softly stirring and as the light grew broad and strong saw them arise one by one and begin dressing in the gray morning then he himself arose and put on his doublet and a hose strapping his belt tightly about his waist then he sat down on the side of his cot presently that happened for which he was waiting two of the younger squires started to bring the bachelor's morning supply of water as they crossed the room Miles called to them in a loud voice a little uneven perhaps stop we draw no more water for anyone in this house saving only for ourselves set you down those buckets and go back to your places the two lads stopped half turned and then stood still holding the three buckets undecidedly in a moment all was uproar and confusion for by this time every one of the lads had arisen some sitting on the edge of their beds some nearly others quite dressed a half dozen of the nights of the rose came over to see where Miles stood gathering in a body behind him and the others followed one after another the bachelors were hardly prepared for such prompt and vigorous action what is to do cried one of them who stood near the two lads with the buckets why fetch he not the water fall worth says we shall not fetch it answered one of the lads a boy by the name of goss what mean ye by that fall worth the young man called to miles miles his heart was beating thickly and heavily within him but nevertheless he spoke up boldly enough I mean said he that from henceforth ye shall fetch and carry for yourselves looky blunt called the bachelor here is fall worth says they squires will fetch no more water for us the head bachelor had heard all that had passed and was even then hastily slipping on his doublet and hose now then fall worth said he at last striding forward what is to do ye will fetch no more water a fire lady I will know the reason why he was still advancing toward miles with two or three of the older bachelors at his heels when gascon spoke thou hits best stand back blunt said he else thou mayst be hurt we will not have ye bang fall worth again as ye once did so stand thou back blunt stopped short and looked upon the lads standing behind miles some of them with faces a trifle pale perhaps but all grim and determined looking enough then he turned upon his heels suddenly and walked back to the far end of the dormitory where the bachelors were presently clustered together a few words passed between them and then the thirteen began at once arming themselves some with wooden clogs and some with the knives which they had so openly concealed the night before at the sign of imminent battle all those not actively interested scuttled away to right and left climbing up on the benches and cots leaving a free field to the combatants the next moment would have brought bloodshed now miles thanks to the training of the Crosby Dale Smith felt tolerably sure that in a wrestling bout he was a match perhaps more than a match for any one of the body of squires and he had determined if possible to bring the battle to a single handed encounter upon that footing accordingly he suddenly stepped forward before the others looky fellow he called to blunt thou art he who struck me whilst I was down some while since will thou let this quarrel stand between thee and me and meet me man to man without weapon see I throw me down mine own and will meet thee with bare hands and as he spoke he tossed the clog he held in his hand back upon the cot so be it said blunt with a great readiness tossing down a similar weapon which he himself held do not go miles cry guess gone he is a villain and a traitor and would betray thee to thy death I saw him when he first got from bed hide a knife in his doublet thou liest said blunt I swear by my faith I be bare handed as ye see me thy friend accuses me miles fall worth because he knoweth thou art afraid of me there thou liest most vile he exclaimed miles swear that thou hast no knife and I will meet thee has thou not heard me say that I have no knife said blunt what more would thou have then I will meet thee half way said miles guess gone caught him by the sleeve and would have withheld him assuring him that he had seen the bachelor conceal a knife but miles hot for the fight broke away from his friend without listening to him as the two advanced steadily towards one another a breathless silence fell upon the dormitory in sharp contrast to the uproar and confusion that had filled it a moment before the lads standing some upon benches some upon beds all watch with breathless interest the meeting of the two champions as they approached one another they stopped and stood for a moment a little apart glaring the one upon the other they seemed ill enough matched blunt was fully half a head taller than miles and was thick said and close knit in young manhood nothing but miles undaunted pluck could have led him to dare to face an enemy so much older and stouter than himself the pause was only for a moment they who looked saw blunt slide his hand furtively towards his bosom miles saw two and in the flash of an instant knew what the gesture meant and spraying upon the other before the hand could grasp what it sought as he clutched his enemy he felt what he had in that instant expected to feel the handle of a dagger the next moment he cried in a loud voice oh thou villain help gasconi have a knife under his doublet in answer to his cry for help miles his friends started to his aid but the bachelors shouted stand back and let them fight it out alone else we will knife ye too and as they spoke some of them leaped from the benches where on they stood drawing their knives and flourishing them for just a few seconds miles his friends stood cowed and in those few seconds the fight came to an end with a suddenness unexpected to all a struggle fierce and silent followed between the two blunt striving to draw the knife and miles with the energy of despair holding him tightly by the wrist it was in vain the elder lad writhed and twisted he was strong enough to overbear miles but was still not able to clutch the half of his knife thou shalt not draw it gas miles at last thou shalt not stab me then again some of his friends started forward to his aid but they were not needed for before they came the fight was over blunt finding that he was not able to draw the weapon suddenly ceased his endeavors and flung his arms around miles trying to bear him down upon the ground and in that moment his battle was lost in an instant so quick so sudden so unexpected that no one could see how it happened his feet were whirled away from under him he spun with flying arms across miles his loins and pitched with a thought upon the stone pavement where he lay still motionless while miles his face white with passion and his eyes gleaming stood glaring around like a young wild boar beset by the dogs the next moment the silence was broken and the uproar broke forth with redoubled violence the bachelors leaping from the benches came hurrying forward on one side and miles his friends from the other thou shalt smart for this fall worth said one of the older lads be like thou has slain him miles turned upon the speaker like a flash and with such a passion of fury in his face at the other a fellow nearly I had taller than he shrank back cowed in spite of himself then gascon came and laid his hand upon his friends shoulder who touches me cried miles hoarsely turning sharply upon him and then seeing who it was oh francis they would have killed me come away miles said gascon thou knowest not what thou doest thou art mad come away what if thou hadst killed him the words called miles somewhat to himself I care not said he but sullenly and not passionately and then he suffered gascon and wilkes to lead him away meantime blunt's friends had turned him over and after feeling his temples his wrist and his heart bore him away to a bench at the far end of the room there they felt a chafing his hands and sprinkling water on his face a crowd of the others gathering about blunt was hidden from miles by those who stood around and the lad listened to the broken talk that filled the room with its confusion his anxiety growing keener as he became cooler but at last with a heartfelt joy he gathered from the confused buzz of words that the other lad had opened his eyes and after a while he saw him sit up leaning his head upon the shoulder of one of his fellow bachelors white and faint and sick as death thank heaven thou didst not kill him said edmund wilkes who had been standing with the crowd looking on at the efforts of blunt's friends to revive him and who had now come and sat down upon the bed not far from miles i said miles gruffly i do thank heaven for that end of chapter 13 by howard pile chapter 14 if miles fancied that one single victory over his enemy would cure the evil against which he fought he was grievously mistaken wrongs are not righted so easily as that it was only the beginning other and far more bitter battles lay before him ere he could look around him and say i have won the victory for a day for two days the bachelors were demoralized at the fall of their leader and the knights of the rose were proportionately uplifted the day that blunt met his fall the wooden tank in which the water had been poured every morning was found to have been taken away the bachelors made a great show of indignation and inquiry who was it who stole their tank if they did but know he should smart for it ho ho roared edmund wilkes so that the whole dormitory heard him smoky not their tricks lads see not that they have stolen their own water tank so that they might have no need for another fight over the carrying of the water the bachelors made an obvious show of not having heard what he said and the general laugh went around no one doubted that wilkes had spoken the truth in his taunt and that the bachelors had indeed stolen their own tank so no more water was ever carried for the head squires but it was plain to see that the war for the upper hand was not yet over even if miles had entertained comforting thoughts to the contrary he was speedily undeceived one morning about a week after the fight as he and guess going were crossing the armory court they were hailed by a group of the bachelors standing at the stone steps of the great building hello a fall worth they cried know as though that blunt is nigh well again nay said miles i knew it not but i am right glad to hear it that will sing a different song anon said one of the bachelors i tell thee he is hot against thee and swears when he cometh again he will carve thee soothly i've married said another i would not be in thy skin a week hence for a ducket only this morning he told philip malbray that he would have thy blood for the fall thou gavest him look to thyself fall worth he cometh again wednesday or thursday next thou standest in a perilous state miles said guess gone as they entered the great quadrangle i do indeed fear me that he meaneth to do the evil i know not said miles boldly but i fear him not nevertheless his heart was heavy with the weight of impending ill one evening the bachelors were more than usually noisy in their end of the dormitory laughing and talking and shouting to one another hello a you sarah fall worth called one of them along the length of the room blunt cometh again tomorrow day miles saw guess going direct a sharp glance at him but he answered nothing either to his enemy's words or his friend's look as the bachelor had said blunt came the next morning it was just after chapel and the whole body of squires was gathered in the armory waiting for the orders of the day and the calling of the role of those chosen for household duty miles was sitting on a bench along the wall talking and jesting with some who stood by when of a sudden his heart gave a great leap within him it was walter blunt he came walking in at the door as if nothing had passed and at his unexpected coming the hubbub of talk and laughter was suddenly checked even miles stopped in his speech for a moment and then continued with a beating heart and a carelessness of manner that was altogether assumed in his hand blunt carried the house orders for the day and without seeming to notice miles he opened it and read the list of those called upon for household service miles had risen and was now standing listening with the others when blunt had ended reading the list of names he rolled up the parchment and thrust it into his belt then swinging suddenly on his heel he strode straight up to miles facing him front to front a moment or two of deep silence followed not a sound broke the stillness when blunt spoke everyone in the armory heard his words sara said he that it's put foul shame upon me sometimes since never will i forget or forgive that offense and will have a reckoning with the right soon that that will not forget to the last day of thy life when miles had seen his enemy turn upon him he did not know at first what to expect he would not have been surprised had they come to blows there and then and he held himself prepared for any event he faced the other pluckily enough and without flinching and spoke up boldly an answer so be it walter blunt i fear thee not in whatever way thou mayest encounter me dost thou not said blunt by your lady thou have caused to fear me ere i'm through with thee he smiled a baleful lingering smile and then turned slowly and walked away what think is thou miles said guess going as the two left the armory together i think not said miles gruffly he will not dare to touch me to harm me i fear him not nevertheless he did not speak the full feelings of his heart i know not miles said guess going shaking his head doubtfully walter blunt is a parlous evil of minded nave and may thinks will do whatever evil he promises i fear him not said miles again but his heart foreboded trouble the coming of the head squire made a very great change in the condition of the affairs even before that coming the bachelors had somewhat recovered from their demoralization and now again they began to pluck up their confidence and to order the younger squires and pages upon this personal service or upon that see you not said miles one day when the knights of the rose were gathered in the brutus tower see you not that they grow as bad as ever and we put not a stop to this over mastery now it will never stop best let it be miles said wilks they will kill thee and they'll cease not troubling them though has spread mischief enough for this self already no matter for that said miles it is not to be born that they order others of us about as they do i mean to speak to them tonight and tell them it shall not be he was as good as his word that night as the youngsters were shouting and romping and skylarking as they always did before turning in he stood upon his cot and shouted silence list to me a little and then in the hush that followed i want those bachelors to hear this that we squires serve them no longer and if they would have some to wait upon them they must get them other wears than here there be twenty of us to stand against them and happily more and we mean that they shall have service of us no more then he jumped down again from his elevated stand and an uproar of confusion instantly filled the place what was the effect of his words upon the bachelors he could not see what was the result he was not slow in discovering the next day miles and guess going were throwing their daggers for a wager at a wooden target against the wall back of the armor of smithy wilkes gossie and one or two others of the squires were sitting on a bench looking on and now and then applauding a more than usually well aimed cast of the knife suddenly that impish little page spoken of before robin engelsby thrust his shock head around the corner of the smithy and said oh falworth blunt is going to serve the out today and i myself heard him say so he says he is going to slit thine ears and then he was gone as suddenly as he had appeared miles darted after him caught him midway in the quadrangle and brought him back by the scuff of the neck squalling and struggling there said he still panting from the chase and seating the boy by no means gently upon the bench beside wilkes sit though there thou imp of evil and now tell me what thou didst mean by thy words and on and thou stop not thine outcry i will cut thy throat for thee and he made a ferocious gesture with his dagger it was by no means easy to worm the story from the mischievous little monkey he knew miles too well to be in the least afraid of his threats but at last by dint of bribing and coaxing miles and his friends managed to get at the facts the youngster had been sent to clean the riding boots of one of the bachelors instead of which he had lulled idly on a cot in the dormitory until he had at last fallen asleep he had been awakened by the opening of the dormitory door and by the sound of voices among them was that of his taskmaster fearing punishment for his neglected duty he had slipped out of the cot and hidden himself beneath it those who had entered were walter blunt and three of the older bachelors blunt's companions were trying to persuade him against something but without a veil it was miles heart thrilled and his blood boiled to lie and wait for him to overpower him by numbers and to mutilate him by slitting his ears a disgraceful punishment administered as a rule only for thieving and poaching he would not dare to do such a thing cried miles with heaving breast and flashing eyes I but he would sit guess going his father lord reginald blunt is a great man overnotting him way and my lord would not dare to punish him even for such a matter as that but tell me robin engelsby does that know ought more of this matter pretty tell it me robin where do they propose to lie and wait for fall worth in the gateway of the buttery court so as to catch him when he passes by to the armory answered the boy are they there now said wilkes I nine of them said robin I heard blunt tell malvary to go and gather the others he heard the tell gossip fall worth that they weren't going thither for thy arbolus this morning to shoot at the rooks with all that will do robin said miles thou mays go and therewith the little imp scurried off pulling the lobes of his ears suggestively as he darted around the corner the others looked at one another for a while in silence so comrades said miles at last what shall we do now go and tell sir james said guess going promptly nay said miles I take no such coward's part as that I say and they hunger to fight give them their stomach full the others were very reluctant for such extreme measures but miles as usual carried his way and so a pitched battle was decided upon it was guess going who suggested the plan which they afterwards followed then wilkes started a way to gather together those of the knights of the rose not upon household duty and miles with the others went to the armorsmith to have them make for them a set of knives with which to meet their enemies knives with blades of foot long pointed and doubled edged the smith leaning with his hammer upon the anvil listened to them as they described the weapons nay nay master miles said he when miles had ended by telling the use to which he intended putting them they were going all wrong in this matter with such blades air this battle has ended someone would be slain and so murder done then the family of him who was killed would happily have you cited and may happen you can come to the hanging for some of the boys had great focus behind them go eat tom fletcher master miles and buy of him good use daves such as one might break ahead with all and with them can you keep your wits you may hold your own against knives or short swords I tell thee even though my trade be making of blades rather what I have good stout cudgel in my hand than the best dagger that ever was forged miles stood thoughtfully for a moment or two then looking up me thinks thou speaketh truly robin said he and it were ill done to have blood upon our hands end of chapter 14 recording by kalinda in reyman new Hampshire on january 1st 2008 chapter 15 of men of iron this is a libervox recording all libervox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libervox.org recording by kalinda men of iron by howard pile chapter 15 from the long narrow stone paved armory court and connecting it with the inner buttery court ran a narrow arched passageway in which was a picket gate closed at night and locked from within it was in this arched passageway that according to little robert engelsby's report the bachelors were lying in wait for miles guess goings plan was that miles should enter the court alone the knights of the rose lying ambushed behind the angle of the armory building until the bachelors should show themselves it was not without trepidation that miles walked alone into the court which happened then to be silent and empty his heart beat more quickly than it was want and he gripped his cudgel behind his back looking sharply this way and that so as not to be taken unawares by a flank movement of his enemies midway in the court he stopped and hesitated for a moment then he turned as though to enter the armory the next moment he saw the bachelors come pouring out from the archway instantly he turned and rushed back towards where his friends lay hidden shouting to the rescue to the rescue stone him roared blunt the villain escapes he stopped and picked up a cobblestone as he spoke fleeing it after his escaping prey it narrowly missed miles head had it struck him there might have been no more of this story to tell to the rescue to the rescue shouted miles friends in answer and the next moment he was surrounded by them then he turned and swinging his cudgel rushed back upon his foes the bachelor stopped short at the unexpected sight of the lads with their cudgels for a moment they rallied and drew their knives then they turned and fled towards their former place of hiding one of them turned for a moment and flung his knife at miles with a deadly aim but miles quick as a cat ducked his body and the weapon flew clattering across the stony court then he who had flung it turned again to fly but in his attempt he had delayed one instant too long miles reached him with a long arm stroke of his cudgel just as he entered the passageway knocking him over like a bottle stunned and senseless the next moment the picket gate was banged in their faces and the bolt shot in the staples and the knights of the rows were left shouting and battering with their cudgels against the bailings but this time the uproar of fight had aroused those in the rooms and offices fronting upon the armory court heads were thrust for many of the windows with the eager interest that a fight always evokes beware shouted miles here they come again he bore back towards the entrance of the alleyway as he spoke those behind him scattering to right and left for the bachelors had rallied and were coming again to the attack shouting they were not a moment too soon in this retreat either for the next instant the pickets flew open and a volley of stones flew after the retreating knights of the rows one smote wilks upon the head knocking him down headlong another struck miles upon his left shoulder been numbing his arm from the fingertips to the armpit so that he thought at first the limb was broken get ye behind the bustresses shouted those who looked down upon the fight from the windows get ye behind the buttresses and in answer the lads scattering like a newly flushed covey of partridges fled to and crouched in the sheltering angles of masonry to escape from the flying stones and now followed a lull in the battle the bachelors fearing to leave the protection of the arched passageway lest their retreat should be cut off and the knights of the rows not daring to quit the shelter of the buttresses and angles of the wall lest they should be knocked down by the stones the bachelor whom miles had struck down with his cudgel was sitting up rubbing the back of his head and wilks had gathered his wits enough to crawl to the shelter of the nearest buttress miles peeping around the corner behind which he stood could see that the bachelors were gathered into a little group consulting together suddenly it broke asunder and blunt turned around oh falloworth he cried will they'll hold truce whilst we parley with thee i answered miles will they'll give me thine honor that you will hold your hands from harming us whilst we talk together yay said miles i will pledge thee mine honor i accept thy pledge see here we throw aside our stones and lay down our knives lay ye by your clubs and meet us in parley at the horse block yonder so be it says miles and thereupon standing his cudgel in the angle of the wall he stepped boldly out into the open courtyard those of his party came scatteringly from right and left gathering about him and the bachelors advanced in a body led by the head squire now what is it that would have walter blunt said miles when both parties had met at the horse block it is to say this to thee miles falloworth said the other one time not long since thou didst challenge me to meet the hand-to-hand in the dormitory then thou didst put a vial affront upon me for the witch i had brought on this battle today for i knew not then thou were going to try the thy peasant tricks of wrestling and so without guarding myself i met thee as thou didst desire but thou had thy knife and would have stabbed him because thou have done so said guess going thou liest said blunt i had no knife and then without giving him time to answer thou canst not deny that i met thee then at thy bidding canst thou falloworth nay said miles nor happily canst thou deny it either and at this covert reminder of his defeat miles followers laughed scoffingly and blunt bit his lip thou has said it said he then said i meet thee at thy bidding i dare to thee to meet me now at mine and to fight this battle out between our two selves with sword and buckler and bassinet as gentle should and not in a wrestling match like two country hodges thou art a coward catiff walter blunt burst out wilkes who stood by with a swelling lump upon his head already as big as a walnut well thou knowest that falloworth is no match for thee at broadsword play is he not four years younger than thou and as thou not had three times the practice in arms that he hath had i say thou art a coward to seek to fight with cutting weapons blunt made no answer to wilkes's speech but gazed steadfastly at miles with a scornful smiles curling the corners of his lips miles stood looking upon the ground without once lifting his eyes not knowing what to answer for he was well aware that he was no match for blunt with the broadsword thou art afraid to fight me miles falloworth said blunt tauntingly and the bachelors gave a jeering laugh and echo then miles looked up and i cannot say that his face was not a trifle wider than usual nay said he i am not afraid and i will fight thee blunt so be it said blunt then let us go at it straight away in the armory yonder for they be at dinner in the great hall and just now there be no one to buy to stay us thou shalt not fight him miles burst out guess going he will murder thee thou shalt not fight him i say miles turned away without answering him what is to do called one of those who were still looking out the windows as the crowd of boys passed beneath blunt and falloworth are going to fight it out hand to hand in the armory answered one of the bachelors looking up the brawling of the squires was a jest to all the adjoining part of the house so the heads were withdrawn again some laughing at the sparring of the crockerals but it was no justing matter to pour miles end of chapter 15 recording by kalinda in raymond new hampshire on january 17 2008 chapter 16 of man of iron this is a libravox recording all libravox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libravox.org recording by kalinda man of iron by howard pile chapter 16 i have no intention to describe the fight between miles falloworth and walter blunt fisticuffs of nowadays are brutal and debasing enough but a fight with a sharp-edged broadsword was not only brutal and debasing but cruel and bloody as well from the very first of the fight miles falloworth was palpably and obviously overmatched after 15 minutes had passed blunt stood hail and sound as at first but poor miles had more than one red stain of warm blood upon doublet and hose and more than one bandage had been wrapped by gas coin and wilks about sore wounds he had received no serious injury as yet for not only was his body protected by a buckler or small oblong shield which he carried upon his left arm and his head by a bassinet or light helmet of steel but perhaps after all blunt was not over anxious to do him any dangerous harm nevertheless there could be but one opinion as to how the fight tended and miles friends were gloomy and downcast the bachelor's proportionately exultant shouting with laughter and taunting miles at every unsuccessful stroke once as he drew back panting leaning upon guess going his shoulder the faithful friend whispered with trembling lips oh dear miles carry it no further though hurt is him not and he will slay thee ere he have done with thee thereupon blunt who caught the drift of the speech put in a word thou art sore hurt miles fall worth said he and i would do thee no grievous harm yield thee and own thyself beaten and i will forgive thee thou has fought a good fight and there is no shame in yielding now never cried miles hoarsely never will i yield me thou may slay me walter blunt and i wreck not if thou dost do so but never else will thou conquer me there was a tone of desperation in his voice that made all look serious nay said blunt i will fight thee no more miles fall worth thou has had enough by heavens cried miles grinding his teeth thou shalt fight me thou coward thou has brought this fight upon us and either thou or i get our quittance here let go guess going he's cried shaking loose his friends hold i tell thee he shall fight me from that moment blunt began to lose his head no doubt he had not thought of such a serious fight as this when he had given his challenge and there was a savage bulldog tenacity about miles that could not but have had a somewhat demoralizing effect upon him a few blows were given and taken and then miles friends gave a shout blunt drew back and placed his hand to his shoulder when he drew it away again it was stained with red and another red stain grew and spread rapidly down the sleeve of his jacket he stared at his hand for a moment with a half-dazed look and then glanced quickly to right and left i will fight no more said he suddenly then yield deep cried miles exultantly the tramphant shouts of the knights of the rose stung blunt like a lash and the battle began again perhaps some of the older lads were of a mind to interfere at this point certainly some looked very serious but before they interposed the fight was ended blunt grinding his teeth struck one undercut at his an opponent the same undercut that miles had that time struck it sir james lee at the night's bidding when he first practiced at the devlin pelts miles met the blow as sir james had met the blow that he had given and then struck in return as sir james had struck full and true the bassinet that blunt war glanced the blow partly but not entirely miles felt his sword bite through the slight steel cap and blunt dropped his own blade clattering upon the floor it was all over in an instant but in that instant what he saw was stamped upon miles mind with an indelible imprint he saw the young man stagger backward he saw the eyes roll upward and a red streak shoot out from under the cap and run down across the cheek blunt reeled half around and then fell prostrate upon his face and miles stood staring at him with the delirious turmoil of his battle dissolving rapidly into a dumb fear at that which he had done once again he had won the victory but what a victory is he dead he whispered to guess going i know not as said guess going with a very pale face but come away miles and he led his friend out of the room some little while later one of the bachelors came to the dormitory where miles his wounds smarting and aching and throbbing lay stretched upon his cot and with a very serious face bad him go presently to sir james who had just come from dinner and was then in his office by this time miles knew that he had not slain his enemy and his heart was light in spite of the coming interview there was no one in the office but sir james and himself and miles without concealing anything told point by point the whole trouble sir james sat looking steadily at him for a while after he had ended never said he presently did i know any one of you squires in all the time that i have been here get himself into so many broils as thou miles fall worth be like though sought to take this lads life nay said miles earnestly god forbid nevertheless sir james thou fetched him a main shrewd blow and it is by good hap and no fault of thine that he will live to do more mischief yet this is my second venture at him the third time happily without willed end him for good then suddenly assuming his grimaced and sternest manner now sir ah do i put a stop to this and no more shall you fight with edged tools get you to the dormitory and abide there a full week without coming forth michael shall bring the bread and water twice a day for that time that is all the food that shall have and we will see if that fair will not cool thy hot humours with all miles had expected a punishment so much more severe than that which was thus needed to him that in the sudden relief he broke into a convulsive laugh and then with a hasty sweep wiped a brimming moisture from his eyes sir james looked keenly at him for a moment thou art white in the face said he art thou wounded very sorely nay said miles it is not much but i be sick in my stomach i i said sir james i know that feeling well it is thus that one always feels in coming out from a sore battle when one had suffered wounds and lost blood and now would keep thyself hail keep thyself from needless fighting now go thou to the dormitory and as i said come thou not forth again for a week stay sir ah he added i will send george barber to thee to look to thy sores green wounds are best drawn and salved ere they grow cold i wonder what miles would have thought had he known that so soon as they left the office sir james had gone straight to the earl and recounted the whole matter to him with a deal of dry gustow and that the earl listened laughing i said he when sir james had done the boy hath metal sure nevertheless we must transplant this fellow blunt to the office of gentlemen and waiting he must be old enough now and guinea stayeth in the present place either he will do the boy a harm or the boy will do him harm so blunt never came again to trouble the squires quarters and thereafter the youngsters rendered no more service to the elders myles first grade fight in life was one end of chapter 16 recording by kalinda in ramond new hampshire on january 17 2008 chapter 17 of men of iron this is a libra vox recording all libra vox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libravox.org recording by susan umpleby men of iron by howard pile chapter 17 the summer passed away and the bleak fall came myles had long since accepted his position as one set apart from the others of his kind and had resigned himself to the evident fact that he was never to serve in the household and waiting upon the earl i cannot say that it never troubled him but in time there came a compensation of which i shall have presently to speak and then he had so much the more time to himself the other lads were sometimes occupied by their household duties when sports were afoot in which they would like to have taken part myles was always free to enter into any matter of the kind after his daily exercise had been performed at the pels the butts or the tilting court but even though he was never called to do service in my lord's house he was not long in gaining a sort of second-hand knowledge of all the family my lady a thin sallow faded dame not yet past middle age but looking ten years older the lady ann the daughter of the house a tall thin dark-eyed dark-haired handsome young dame of 20 or 21 years of age hawk knows like her father and silent proud and haughty myles heard the squires say lady alice the earl of macworth's niece and ward a great eras in her own right a strikingly pretty black-eyed girl of 14 or 15 these compose the earl's personal family but besides them was lord george bowmont his earl's brother and him myles soon came to know better than any of the chief people of the castle accepting sir james lee for since myles great battle in the armory lord george had taken a laughing sort of liking to the lad encouraging him at times to talk of his adventures and of his hopes and aspirations perhaps the earl's younger brother who was himself somewhat a soldier of fortune having fought in spain france and germany felt a certain kinship in spirit with the adventurous youngster who had his unfriended way to make in the world however that might have been lord george was very kind and friendly to the lad and the willing service that myles rendered him reconciled him not a little to the earl's obvious neglect besides these of the more immediate family of the earl were a number of knights ladies and gentlemen some of them cadets some of them retainers of the house of bowmont for the princely nobles of those days lived in state little less royal than royalty itself most of the knights and gentlemen myles soon came to know by sight meeting them in lord george's apartments in the south wing of the great house and some of them following the lead of lord george single them out for friendly notice giving him a nod or a word in passing every season has its pleasures for boys and the constant change that they bring is one of the greatest delights of boyhoods days all of us as we grow older have in our memory pictures of bygone times that are somehow more than usually vivid the colors of some not blurring by time as others do one of which in remembering always filled miles hard in after years with an indefinable pleasure was the recollection of standing with others of his fellow squires in the crisp brown autumn grasp of the paddock and shooting with the longbow at wildfowl which when the east wind was straining flew low overhead to pitch to the lake in the forbidden precincts of the deer park beyond the brow of the hill more than once a brace or two of these wildfowl shot in their southward flight by the lads and cooked by fat good-natured mother jone graced the rude mess table of the squires in the long haul and even the toughest and fishiest drake so the fruit of their skill had a savor that somehow or other the daintiest fair lacked in after years then fall passed and winter came bleak cold and dreary not winter as we know it nowadays with warm fires and bright lights to make the long night sweet and cheerful with comfort but winter with all its grimness and sternness in the great cold stone walled castles of those days the only fire and almost the only light were those from the huge blazing logs that roared and crackled in the great open stone fireplace around which the folks gathered sheltering their faces as best they could from the scorching heat and cloaking their shoulders from the biting cold for at the farther end of the room where giant shadows swayed and bowed and danced huge and black against the high walls the white frost glistened in the moonlight on the stone pavements and the breath went up like smoke in those days there were no books to read but at the best only rude stories and jests recited by some stroly mummer or minstrel to the listening circle gathered round the blaze and welcoming the coarse gross jests and coarser grosser songs with roars of boisterous laughter yet bleak and dreary as was the winter in those days and cold and biting as was the frost in the cheerless windy halls and corridors of the castle it was not without its joys to the young lads for then as now boys could find pleasure even in slushy weather when the sodden snow is fit for nothing but to make snowballs of thrice that bitter winter the moat was frozen over and the lads making them so skates of marrow bones which they bought from the hawk cook at a groda pair went skimming over the smooth surface red cheeked and shouting while the crows and the jackdaws looked down at them from the top of the bleak gray walls then at yuletide which was somewhat of a rude semblance to the merry christmas season of our day a great feast was held in the hall and all the castle folk were fed in the presence of the earl and the countess oxen and sheep were roasted whole huge suet puddings made a barley meal sweetened with honey and stuffed with plums were boiled in great cauldrons in the open courtyard whole barrels of ale and malmsey were broached and all the folk gentle and simple were bitten to the feast afterwards the minstrels danced and played a rude play and in the evening a miracle show was performed on a raised platform in the north hall for a week afterwards the castle was fed upon the remains of the good things left from that great feast until everyone grew to loathe fine victuals and longed for honest beef and mustard again then at last in that constant change the winter was gone and even the lads who had enjoyed its passing were glad when the winds blew warm once more and the grass showed green and sunny places and the leader of the wildfowl blew his horn as they who in the fall had flown to the south flew arrow like northward again when the buds swelled and the leaves burst forth once more and crocuses and then daffodils gleamed in the green grass like sparks and flames of gold with the spring came the outdoor sports of the season among others that of ball for boys were boys and played at ball even in those far away days a game called trap ball even yet in some parts of england it is played just as it was in miles fell worse day and enjoyed just as miles and his friends enjoyed it so now that the sun was warm in the weather pleasant the game of trap ball was in full swing every afternoon the playground being an open space between the wall that surrounded the castle grounds and that of the privy garden the pleasant in which the ladies of the urls family took the air every day and upon which their apartments opened now one fine breezy afternoon when the lads were shouting and playing at this then their favorite game miles himself was at the trap bare handed and bare armed the wind was blowing from behind him and aided perhaps by it he had already struck three of four balls nearly the whole length of the court an unusual distance and several of the lads had gone back almost as far as the wall of the privy garden to catch any ball that might chance to fly as far as that then once more miles struck throwing all his strength into the blow the ball shot up into the air and when it fell it was to drop within the privy garden the shouts of the young players were instantly still and guess going who stood nearest miles thrust his hands into his belt giving a long shrill whistle this time now a struck us all out miles said he there be no more play for us until we get another ball the outfielders came slowly trooping in until they had gathered in a little circle around miles i could not help it said miles in answer to their grumbling how knew i the ball would fly so far but if i have lost the ball i can get it again i will climb the wall for it that should do not of the kind miles said gas going hastily thou art as mad as a march hair to think of such a venture what's gets thyself shot with a bolt betwixt the ribs like poor dick and cook of all places about the castle the privy garden was perhaps the most sacred it was a small plot of ground only a few rods long and wide and was kept absolutely private for the use of the countess and her family only a little while before miles had first come to devlin one of the cooks min had been found climbing the wall whereupon the soldier who saw him shot him with his crossbow the poor fellow dropped from the wall into the garden and when they found him he still held a bunch of flowers in his hand which he had perhaps been gathering for his sweetheart had miles seen him carried on a litter to the infirmary as gas going and some of the others had done he might have thought twice before venturing to enter the lady's private garden as it was he only shook his stubborn head and said again i will climb the wall and fetch it now at the lower extremity of the court and about twelve or fifteen feet distant from the garden wall there grew a pear tree some of the branches of which overhung into the garden beyond so first making sure that no one was looking that way and bidding the others keep a sharp look out miles shinned up this tree and choosing one of the thicker limbs climbed out upon it for some little distance then lowering his body he hung at arm's length the branch bending with his weight and slowly let himself down hand under hand until at last he hung directly over the top of the wall and perhaps a foot above it below him he could see the leafy top of an arbor covered with a thick growth of clematis and even as he hung there he noticed the broad smooth walks the grassy terrace in front of the countess's apartments in the distance the quaint flower beds the yew trees trimmed into odd shapes and even the deaf old gardener working bare-armed in the sunlight at a flower bed in the far corner by the tool house the top of the wall was pointed like a house roof and immediately below him was covered by a thick growth of green moss and it flashed through his mind as he hung there that maybe it would offer a very slippery foothold for one dropping upon the steep slopes of the top but it was too late to draw back now bracing himself for a moment he loosed his hold upon the limb above the branch flew back with a rush and he dropped striving to grasp the sloping angle with his feet instantly the treacherous slippery moss slid away from beneath him he made a vain clutch at the wall his fingers sliding over the cold stones then with a sharp exclamation down he pitched bodily into the garden beneath a thousand thoughts flew through his brain like a cloud of flies and then a leafy greenness seemed to strike up against him a splintering crash sounded in his ears as the lattice top of the arbor broke under him and with one final clutch at the empty air he fell heavily upon the ground beneath he heard a shrill scream that seemed to find an instant echo even as he fell he had a vision of faces and bright colors and when he sat up dazed and bewildered he found himself face to face with the lady Anne the daughter of the house and her cousin the lady Alice who clutching one another tightly stood staring at him with wide scared eyes End of Chapter 17 Chapter 18 of Men of Iron This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Susan Umpleby. Men of Iron by Howard Pyle Chapter 18 For a little time there was a pause of deep silence during which the fluttering leaves came drifting down from the broken arbor above It was the lady Anne who first spoke. Who art thou? And whence comest thou? said she, trimulously. Then Miles gathered himself up sheepishly. My name is Miles Fowlworth, said he, and I am one of the squires of the body. Oh, I said the lady Alice suddenly. Me thought I knew thy face. Art thou not the young man that I have seen in Lord George's train? Yes, lady, said Miles, wrapping and twining a piece of the broken vine in and out among his fingers. Lord George hath often had me of late about his person. And what dost thou do here, sirrah? said Lady Anne angrily. How darest thou come so into our garden? I meant not to come as I did, said Miles clumsily, and with a face hot and red. But I slipped over the top of the wall and fell hastily into the garden. Truly, lady, I meant ye no harm or fright thereby. He looked so drolly abashed as he stood before them, with his clothes torn and soiled from the fall, his face red, and his eyes downcast, all the while industriously twisting the piece of clematis in and around his fingers, the lady Anne's half-frightened anger could not last. She and her cousin exchanged glances and smiled at one another. But, said she at last, trying to draw her pretty brows together into a frown, tell me, why didst thou seek to climb the wall? I came to seek a ball, said Miles, which I struck over hither from the court beyond. And what dost thou come into our privy garden for no better reason than to find a ball, said the young lady? Nay, said Miles, it was not so much to find the ball, but in good soothe, I did truly strike it harder than need be, and so, again, I lost the ball. I could do no less than to come and find it again, else our sport is done for the day. So it was I came hither. The two young ladies had by now recovered from their fright. The lady Anne slyly nudged her cousin with her elbow, and the younger could not suppress a half-nervous laugh. Miles heard it, and felt his face grow hotter and redder than ever. Nay, said Lady Anne, I do believe, Master Giles, my name beest Miles, corrected Miles. Very well, then, Master Miles, I say I do believe that thou meanest no harm in coming hither. Nevertheless, it was ill of thee to do so, and my father should find thee here, he would have thee shrewdly punished for such trespassing. Does thou not know that no one is permitted to enter this place? No, not even my uncle George. One fellow who came hither to steal apples once had his ear shaven close to his head, and not more than a year ago one of the cooksmen who climbed the wall early one morning was shot by the watchman. I, said Miles, I knew of him who was shot, and it did go somewhat against my stomach to venture, knowing what had happened to him. Nevertheless, and I get not the ball, how are we to play more to-day at the trap? Mary, thou art a bold fellow, I do believe me, said the young lady, and sin thou hast come in the face of such peril to get thy ball, thou shalt not go away empty, wither dist thou strike it. Over yonder by the cherry tree, said Miles, jerking his head in that direction, and I may go get it, I will trouble ye no more. As he spoke he made a motion to leave them. Stay, said the lady Anne hastily, remain where thou art, and thou cross the open, someone may happily see thee from the house, and will give thee alarm, and thou wilt be lost, I will go get thy ball. And so she left Miles and her cousin crossing the little plots of grass and skirting the rose-bushes to the cherry tree. When Miles found himself alone with Lady Alice, he knew not where to look, or what to do, but twisted the peace of Climates, which he still held, in and out more industriously than ever. Lady Alice watched him with dancing eyes for a little while. Happily thou wilt spoil that poor vine, said she by and by, breaking the silence and laughing, then turning suddenly serious again. Didst thou hurt thyself by thy fall? Nay, said Miles looking up, such a fall as that was no great matter, many and many a time I have had worse. Hast thou so? said the Lady Alice. Thou didst fright me parlously, and my cousin likewise. Miles hesitated for a moment and then blurted out. There at I grieve, for thee I would not fright for all the world. The young lady laughed and blushed. All the world is a great matter, said she. Yea, said he, it is a great matter, but it is a greater matter to fright thee, and so I would not do it for that and more. The young lady laughed again, but she did not say anything further, and a space of silence fell so long that by and by she forced herself to say, my cousin findeth not the ball presently. Nay, said Miles briefly, and then again neither spoke, until by and by the Lady Anne came bringing the ball. Miles felt a great sense of relief at that coming, and yet was somehow sorry. Then he took the ball and knew enough to bow his acknowledgement in a manner neither ill nor awkward. Didst thou hurt thyself? asked Lady Anne. Nay, said Miles, giving himself a shake, seeest thou not I behold limb and bone? Nay, I have had shrewdly worse falls than that. Once I fell out of an oak tree down by the river and upon a root, and bethought me I did break a rib or more. And in one time when I was a boy in Crosbydale, that was where I lived before I came hither, I did catch me hold of the blade of the windmill, thinking it was moving slowly and that I would have a ride in the air, and so was like to have had a fall ten thousand times worse than this. Oh, tell us more of that! said the Lady Anne eagerly. I did never hear of such an adventure as that. Come, cuss, and sit down here upon the bench, and let us have him tell us all of that happening. Now the lads upon the other side of the wall had been whistling fruitively for some time, not knowing whether Miles had broken his neck or had come off scot-free from his fall. I would like right well to stay with ye, said he, irresolutely, and would gladly tell ye that and more, and ye would have me to do so. But here ye not my friends calling me from beyond? May hap they think I break my back, and are calling to see whether I be alive or no. And I might whistle them answer and toss me this ball to them, all would then be well, and they would know that I was not hurt, and so haply would go away. Then answer them, said the Lady Anne, and tell us of that thing thou spokeest of anon, how thou tookest a ride upon the windmill. We young ladies do hear little of such matters, not being allowed to talk with lads. All that we hear of perils are of knights and ladies and jousting, and such like. It would pleasure us right well to have thee tell of thy adventures. So Miles tossed back the ball and whistled an answer to his friends. Then he told the two young ladies not only of his adventure upon the windmill, but also of other boyish escapades, and told them well, with a straightforward smack and vigor, for he enjoyed adventure and loved to talk of it. In a little while he had regained his ease, his shyness and awkwardness left him, and nothing remained but the delightful fact that he was really and actually talking to two young ladies, and that with just as much ease and infinitely more pleasure than could be had in discourse with his fellow squires. But at last it was time for him to go. Mary, said he, with a half sigh, me thinks I never had so sweet and pleasant a time in all my life before. Never did I know a real lady to talk with, saving only my mother. And I do tell ye playing, me thinks, I would rather talk with ye than with any he in Christendom, saving perhaps only my friend Gascoigne. I would, I might come hither again. The honest frankness of his speech was irresistible. The two young girls exchanged glances and then began laughing. Truly, said Lady Anne, who, as was said before, was some three or four years older than Miles, thou art a bold lad to ask such a thing. How wouldst thou come hither? Wouldst tumble through our clemenis arbor again, as thou didst today? Nay, said Miles, I would not do that again. But if ye will bid me do so, I will find the means to come hither. Nay, said Lady Anne, I dare not bid thee do such a foolhardy thing. Nevertheless, if thou hast the courage to come— Yea, said Miles eagerly, I have the courage! Then if thou hast so, we will be here in the garden on Saturday next at this hour. I would like right well to hear more of thy adventures. But what didst thou say was thy name? I have forgot it again. It is Miles Fowlworth. Then we shall he clap thee, Sir Miles, for thou art a soothly errant night. And stay! Every night must have a lady to serve. How wouldst thou like my cousin Alice here for thy true lady? I, said Miles eagerly, I would like it right well, and then he blushed fiery red at his boldness. I want no errant night to serve me, said the Lady Alice, blushing in answer. Thou dost ill tease me, because, and thou art so free in choosing him a lady to serve, thou mayest choose him thyself for thy pains. Nay, said the Lady Anne, laughing, I say thou shalt be his true lady, and he shall be thy true knight. Who knows? Perchance he may serve in thee in some wondrous adventure, like his Chaucer telleth of. But now, Sir Errant Knight, thou must take thy leave of us, and I must see and let thee prively out by the postern wicket. And if thou wilt take the risk upon thee and come hither again, prithee, be wary in that coming, lest, in venturing, thou have thine ears clipped in most unnightly fashion. That evening, as he and Gascoigne sat together on a bench under the trees in the great quadrangle, Miles told of his adventure of the afternoon, and his friend listened with breathless interest. But Miles, cried Gascoigne, did the Lady Anne never once seem proud and unkind? Nay, said Miles, only at first, when she chid me for falling through the roof of their arbor, and to think, Francis, Lady Anne herself, bade me hold the Lady Alice as my true lady, and to serve her in all nightliness. Then he told his friend that he was going to the privy garden again on the next Saturday, and that the Lady Anne had given him permission to do so. Gascoigne gave a long, wandering whistle, and then sat quite still, staring into the sky. By and by he turned to his friend and said, I give thee my pledge, Miles Falworth, that never in all my life did I hear of anyone that had such marvellous strange happenings befall him as thou. Whenever the opportunity occurred for sending a letter to Crosby Holt, Miles wrote one to his mother, and one can guess how they were treasured by the good lady, and read over and over again to the blind old Lord as he sat staring into darkness with his sightless eyes. About the time of this escapade, he wrote a letter telling of those doings wherein, after speaking of his misadventure of falling from the wall, and of his acquaintance with the young ladies, he went on to speak of the matter in which he repeated his visits. The letter was worded in the English of that day, the quaint and crabid language in which Chaucer wrote. Perhaps few boys could read it nowadays, so modernizing it somewhat, it ran thus. And now to let ye weep that thing that followed that happening, that made me acquaint with the two young demoiselles. I take me to the south wall of that garden one day, four and twenty great spikes, which Peter Smith did forge for me, and for which I pay him five pence, and that all the money that I had left of my half-year's wage, and what not where I may get more at these present, without an I do but take me to Sir James, who, as I did tell ye, hath consented to hold those monies that prior Edward gave me till I need them. Now these same spikes, I say, I take me them down behind the corner of the wall, and there drey them betwixt the stones, my very dear comrade and true friend, guess going, hoping me there too to do. And so, come Saturday, I climb me over the wall, and to the roof of the tool-house below, seeking a fitting opportunity, when I might do so, without being in too great jeopardy. Ye, and who should be there but they two ladies, biting my coming, who, seeing me, made as though they had expected me not, and gave me greatest rebuke for adventuring so modally. Yet, me thinks, were they right well-pleasured that I should so a venture, which indeed I might not otherwise do, seen, as I have told to thee, that one of them is my own true lady for to serve him, and so is the only way that I might come to speech with her. Such was Miles' own quaint way of telling how he accomplished his aim of visiting the Forbidden Garden, and no doubt the smack of adventure and the savor of danger in the undertaking recommended him not a little to the favour of the young ladies. After this first acquaintance, perhaps a month passed, during which Miles had climbed the wall some half a dozen times, for the Lady Anne would not permit two frequent visits, and during which the first acquaintance of the three ripened rapidly to an honest, pleasant friendship. More than once, Miles, when in Lord George's train, caught a covert smile or half-nod from one or both of the girls, not a little delightful in its very secret friendliness. Men of Iron by Howard Pyle Chapter 19 As was said, perhaps a month passed, then Miles' visits came to an abrupt termination, and with it ended, in a certain sense, a chapter of his life. One Saturday afternoon he climbed the garden wall and skirting behind a long row of rose bushes that screened him from the Countess's terrace, came to a little summer-house, where the two young ladies had appointed to meet him that day. A pleasant half-hour or so was passed, and then it was time for Miles to go. He lingered for a while before he took his final leave, leaning against the door-post, and laughingly telling how he, and some of his brother's squires, had made a figure of straw, dressed in men's clothes, and had played a trick with it, one night upon a watchman, against whom they bore a grudge. The young ladies were listening with laughing faces, when, suddenly, as Miles looked, he saw the smile vanish from Lady Alice's eyes, and a wide terror take its place. She gave a half-articulate cry, and rose abruptly from the bench, upon which she was sitting. Miles turned sharply, and then his very heart seemed to stand still within him, for there, standing in the broad sunlight without, and glaring in upon the party with baleful eyes, was the Earl of Macworth, himself. How long was the breathless silence that followed, Miles could never tell. He knew that the Lady Anne had also risen, and that she and her cousin were standing as still as statues. Presently the Earl pointed to the house with his staff, and Miles noted stupidly how it trembled in his hand. You wenches, he said at last, in a hard, harsh voice. You wenches, what meaneth this? Would ye deceive me so, and hold parlance thus secretly with this fellow? I will settle with him anon. Meantime get ye straightway to the house and to your rooms, and there abide until I give ye leave to come forth again. Go, I say. Father, said Lady Anne, in a breathless voice, she was as white as death, and moistened her lips with her tongue before she spoke. Father, thou wilt not do harm to this young man. Spare him. I do beseech thee, for truly it was I who bade him come hither. I know that he would not have come but at our bidding. The Earl stamped his foot upon the gravel. Did ye not hear me? said he, still pointing towards the house with his trembling staff. I bage ye go to your rooms. I will settle with this fellow, I say, as I deem fitting. Father, began Lady Anne again, but the Earl made such a savage gesture that poor Lady Alice uttered a faint shriek, and Lady Anne stopped abruptly, trembling. Then she turned and passed out the farther door of the summer-house, poor little Lady Alice following, holding her tight by the skirts, and trembling and shuddering as though with the fit of the Agu. The Earl stood looking grimly after them from under his shaggy eyebrows, until they passed away behind the yew-trees, appeared again upon the terrace behind, entered the open doors of the woman's house, and were gone. Miles heard their footsteps growing fainter and fainter, but he never raised his eyes. Upon the ground at his feet were four pebbles, and he noticed how they almost made a square, and would do so if he pushed one of them with his toe, and then it seemed strange to him that he should think of such a little foolish thing at that dreadful time. He knew that the Earl was looking gloomily at him, and that his face must be very pale. Suddenly Lord Mackworth spoke. What has thou to say? said he harshly. Then Miles raised his eyes, and the Earl smiled grimly as he looked his victim over. I have not to say, said the lad huskily. Didst thou not hear what my daughter spake but now? said the Earl. She said that thou came not of thy own free will. What sayest thou to that? Surah, is it true? Miles hesitated for a moment or two. His throat was tight and dry. Nay! said he at last. She belieth herself. It was I who first came into the garden. I fell by chance from the tree yonder. I was seeking a ball. Then I asked those two if I might not come hither again, and so have done some several times in all. But as for her? Nay! It was not at her bidding that I came, but through my own asking. The Earl gave a little grunt in his throat, and how often hest thou been here? said he presently. Miles thought a moment or two. This maketh the seventh time, said he. Another pause of silence, and Miles began to pluck up some heart, that maybe all would yet be well. The Earl's next speech dashed that hope into a thousand fragments. Well thou knowest, said he, that it is forbidden for any to come here. Well thou knowest, that twice have men been punished for this thing, that thou hast done, and yet thou camest in spite of all. Now does thou know what thou wilt suffer? Miles picked with nervous fingers at a crack in the oaken post against which he leaned. May hap thou wilt kill me? said he at last, in a dull, choking voice. Again the Earl smiled a grim smile. Nay! said he, I would not slay thee, for thou hast gentle blood. But what sayest thou, should I shear thine ears from thine head? Or perchance have thee scourged in the great court? The sting of the words sent the blood flying back to Miles's face again, and he looked quickly up. Nay! said he, with a boldness that surprised himself. Thou shalt do no such unlordly thing upon me as that. I be thy piercer in blood, and though thou mayest kill me, thou hast no right to shame me. Lord Mackworth bowed, with a mocking courtesy. Mary, said he, me thought it was one of my own saucy pop and jay squires, that I caught sneaking here and talking to those two foolish young lasses, and lo! it is a young lord, or may hap thou art a young prince, and commandeth me that I shall not do this, and I shall not do that. I crave your lordship's honourable pardon, if I have said ought, that may have galled you. The fear Miles had felt was now beginning to dissolve in rising wrath. Nay! said he stoutly, I be no lord, and I be no prince, but I be as good as thou. For I am not the son of thy one-time very true comrade, and thy kinsman, to wit, the lord fall-worth, whom, as thou knowest, is poor and broken, and blind and helpless, and outlawed and banned? Yet, cried he, grinding his teeth, as the thought of it all rushed in upon him, I would rather be in his place than in yours, for though he be ruined you, he had just enough sense to stop there. The earl gripping his staff behind his back, and with his head a little bent, was looking keenly at the lad, from under his shaggy gray brows. Well, said he, as Miles stopped, thou hast gone too far now to draw back, say thy say to the end, why wouldst thou rather be in thy father stead than in mine? Miles did not answer, thou shalt finish thy speech, or else show thyself a coward, though thy father is ruined, thou didst say, I am what? Miles keyed himself up to the effort, and then blurted out, thou art tainted with shame. A long breathless silence followed. Miles Falworth, said the earl at last, and even in the whirling of his wits, Miles wondered that he had the name so pat. Miles Falworth, of all the bold, mad, hair-brained fools, thou art the most foolish. How dost thou dare say such words to me? Dost thou not know that thou makest thy coming punishment ten times more bitter by such a speech? I cried Miles desperately, but what else could I do? And I did not say the words, thou callest me coward, and coward I am not. By your lady, said the earl, I do believe thee, thou art a bold, impudent violet, as ever lived, to beard me so forsooth. Hark ye, thou sayest, I think not, of mine old comrade, I will show thee that thou dost belie me. I will suffer what thou hast said to me, for his sake, and for his sake will forgive thee that coming hither, which I would not do in another case to any other man. Now get thee gone straightway, and come hither no more. Yonder's the poster in gate, may hap thou knowest the way. But stay, how camest thou hither? Miles told him of the spikes he had driven in the wall, and the earl listened stroking his beard. When the lad had ended, he fixed a sharp look upon him. But thou drove not those spikes alone, said he, who help thee do it? That I may not tell, said Miles firmly. So be it, said the earl, I will not ask thee to tell his name. Now get thee gone, and as for those spikes, thou mayest even knock them out of the wall, sin thou drive them in. Play no more pranks, and thou wouldst keep thy skin whole, and now go, I say. Miles needed no further bidding, but turned and left the earl without another word. As he went out the poster in gate, he looked over his shoulder, and saw the tall figure in its long, fur-trimmed gown, still standing in the middle of the path, looking after him from under the shaggy eyebrows. As he ran across the quadrangle, his heart still fluttering in his breast, he muttered to himself, the old grizzled beard, and I had not faced him a bold front, may happy would have put such shame upon me, as he said. I wonder why he stood so staring after me, as I left the garden. Then for the time the matter slipped from his mind, saving only that part that smacked of adventure. End of Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Of Men of Iron This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Reading by Robin Cotter December 2007. Men of Iron by Howard Pyle Chapter 20 So for a little while Miles was disposed to congratulate himself upon having come off so well from his adventure with the Earl. But after a day or two had passed, and he had time for second thought, he began to mist out whether, after all, he might not have carried it with a better air if he had shown more chivalrous boldness in the presence of his true lady. Whether it would not have redounded more to his credit if he had in some way asserted his rights as the young dame's knight, errant, and defender. Was it not ignominious to resign his rights and privileges so easily and tamely at a signal from the Earl? For in soothe, said he to Gascoigne, as the two talked the matter over, she hath in a certain way accepted me for her night, and yet I stood me there without saying so much as one single word in her behalf. Nay, said Gascoigne, I would not trouble me on that score. Methinks that thou didst come off wondrous well out of the business. I would not have thought it possible that my lord could have been so patient with thee as he showed himself. Methinks, forsooth, he must hold thee privily in right high esteem. Truly, said Miles, after a little pause of meditative silence, I know not of any esteem, yet I do think he was passing patient with me in this matter. But, ne'er the less, Francis, that change is not my stand in the case. Yea, I did shamefully, so to resign my lady without speaking one word, nor will I so resign her even yet. I have bethought me much of this matter of late, Francis, and now I come to thee to help me from my evil case. I would have the act at the part of a true friend to me, like that one I have told thee of in the story of the Emperor Justinian. I would have thee, when next thou serviced in the house, to so contrive that my lady Alice shall get a letter which I shall presently write, and wherein I may set all that is crooked straight again. Heaven forbid, said Gascoigne hastily, that I should be such a fool as to burn my fingers in drawing thy nuts from the fire. Deliver thy letter thyself, good fellow. So spoke Gascoigne, yet after he ended, he, as he usually did, by yielding to Miles's superior will and persistence. So the letter was written, and one day the good-natured Gascoigne carried it with him to the house, and the opportunity offering gave it to one of the young ladies attendant upon the Countess's family, alas with whom he had friendly intimacy to be delivered to Lady Alice. But if Miles congratulated himself upon the success of this new adventure, it was not for long. That night, as the crowd of pages and squires were making themselves ready for bed, the call came through the uproar for Miles Falworth, Miles Falworth. Here I be, cried Miles, standing up on his cot, who calleth me? It was the groom of the Earl's bed-chamber, and seeing Miles standing thus, raised above the others, he came walking down the length of the room towards him, the wanted hubbub, gradually silencing as he advanced, and the youngsters turning, staring, and wondering. My lord would speak with thee, Miles Falworth, said the groom, when he had come close enough to where Miles stood. Busk thee and make ready, he is at livery even now. The groom's words fell upon Miles like a blow. He stood for a while, staring wide-eyed. My lord speak with me, sayest thou, he ejaculated at last. I, said the other impatiently, get thee ready quickly, I must return anon. Miles's head was in a whirl as he hastily changed his clothes for a better suit, gas-going helping him. What could the Earl want with him at this hour? He knew in his heart what it was. The interview could concern nothing but the letter that he had sent to Lady Alice that day. As he followed the groom through the now dark and silent courts, and across the corner of the great quadrangle, and so to the Earl's house, he tried to brace his failing courage to meet the coming interview. Nevertheless his heart beat tumultuously as he followed the other down the long corridor, lit only by a flaring link set in a wrought-iron bracket. Then his conductor lifted the eras at the door of the bedchamber. Once came the murmuring sound of many voices, and holding it aside beckoned him to enter, and Miles passed within. At the first he was conscious of nothing but a crowd of people, and of the brightness of many lighted candles. Then he saw that he stood in a great, airy room, spread with the woven mat of rushes. On three sides the walls were hung with tapestry, representing hunting and battle scenes. At the farther end where the bed stood, the stone wall of the fourth side was covered with cloth of blue, embroidered with silver ghost-hawks. Even now, in the ripe springtime of May, the room was still chilly, and a great fire roared and crackled in the huge gaping mouth of the stone fireplace. Not far from the blaze were clustered the greater part of those present, buzzing in talk, now and then swelled by murmuring laughter, some of those who knew Miles nodded to him, and two or three spoke to him as he stood waiting, whilst the groom went forward to speak to the Earl, though what they said and what he answered, Miles in his bewilderment and trepidation, hardly knew. As was said before, the livery was the last meal of the day, and was taken in bed. It was a simple repast, a manchette, or small loaf of bread, of pure white flour, a loaf of household bread, sometimes a lump of cheese, and either a great flagon of ale, or of sweet wine, warm and spiced. The Earl was sitting upright in bed, dressed in a furred dressing-gown, and propped up by two cylindrical bolsters of crimson satin. Upon the coverlet, and spread over his knees, was a large, wide napkin of linen, fringed with silver thread, and on it rested a silver tray, containing the bread and some cheese. Two pages and three gentlemen were waiting upon him, and Mad Noel, the jester, stood at the head of the bed, now and then jingling his bobble, and passing some quaint jest upon the chance of making his master smile. Upon a table nearby were some dozen or so wax and tapers, struck upon as many spiked candlesticks of silver guilt, and illuminating that end of the room with their bright twinkling flames. One of the gentlemen was in the act of serving the Earl with the goblet of wine, poured from a silver ewer by one of the squires, as the groom of the chamber came forward and spoke. The Earl, taking the goblet, turned his head, and his miles looked, their eyes met. Then the Earl turned away again, and raised the cup to his lips, while Miles felt his heart beat more rapidly than ever. But at last the meal was ended, and the Earl washed his hands and his mouth and his beard from a silver basin of scented water, held by another one of the squires. Then, leaning back against the pillows, he beckoned to Miles. In answer Miles walked forward the length of the room, conscious that all eyes were fixed upon him. The Earl said something, and those who stood near drew back as he came forward. Then Miles found himself standing beside the bed, looking down upon the quilted counterpane, feeling that the other was gazing fixedly at him. I sent for thee, said the Earl at last, still looking steadily at him, because this afternoon came a letter to my hand, which thou hast written to my niece, the Lady Alice. I have it here, said he, thrusting his hand under the bolster, and have just now finished reading it. Then after a moment's pause, whilst he opened the parchment and scanned it again, I find no matter of harm in it, but hereafter, right no more such. He spoke entirely without anger, and Miles looked up in wonder. Here, take it, said the Earl, folding the letter, and tossing it to Miles, who instinctively caught it, and henceforth trouble thou my niece no more, either by letter or any other way. I thought happily thou wouldst be at some saucy trick, and I made Alice promise to let me know when it happened. Now I say, let this be an end of the matter. Thus thou not know thou mayst injure her by such witless folly as that of meeting her privily, and privily writing to her? I meant no harm, said Miles. I believe thee, said the Earl, that will do. Thou mayst go, Miles hesitated. What wouldst thou say, said Lord Mackworth? Only this, said Miles, and I have thy leave so to do, that the Lady Alice hath chosen me to be her knight, and so whether I may see her or speak with her, or know, the laws of chivalry give me, whom gentle-born, the right to serve her, as a true knight may. As a true fool may, said the Earl dryly, why how now, thou art not a knight, yet, nor anything but a raw lump of a boy, would rights to the law of chivalry give thee, sirrah? Thou art a fool. Had the Earl been ever so angry, his words would have been less bitter to Miles than his cool, unmoved patience. It mortified his pride, and galled it to the quick. I know that thou dost hold me in contempt, he mumbled. Out upon thee, said the Earl testily, thou dost tease me beyond patience. I hold thee in contempt, forsooth. Why, look thee, hadst thou been other than thou art? I would have had thee whipped out of my house long since. Thinkest thou I would have borne so patiently with another one of you squires, had such a one held secret meeting with my daughter and niece, and tampered as thou hast done with my household, sending through one of my people that letter? Go to, thou art a fool, Miles Fallworth. Miles stood staring at the Earl, without making an effort to speak. The words that he had heard suddenly flashed, as it were, a new light into his mind. In that flash he fully recognized, and for the first time the strange and wonderful forbearance the great Earl had shown to him a poor obscure boy. What did it mean? Was Lord Macworth his secret friend after all, as Gascoigne had more than once asserted? So Miles stood silent, thinking many things. Meantime the other lay back upon the cylindrical bolsters, looking thoughtfully at him. How old art thou? Said he at last. Seventeen last April, answered Miles. Then thou art old enough to have some of the thoughts of a man, and to lay aside those of a boy. Happily thou hast had foolish things in thy head this short time past. It is time that thou put them away. Hark ye, sirrah! The Lady Alice is a great heiress in her own right, and mayest command the best alliance in England, an Earl, a Duke. She groweth a pace to a woman, and then her kind lyeth in courts and great houses. As for thee, thou art but a poor lad, penniless and without friends to aid thee to open advancement. Thy father is a tainted, and one whisper of where he lyeth hid would bring him thence to the tower, and happily to the block. Besides that he hath an enemy, as Sir James Lee hath already told thee. An enemy perhaps more great and powerful than myself. That enemy watcheth for thy father, and for thee, shouldst thou dare raise thy head, or thy fortune ever so little, he would happily crop them both, and that parlously quick. Miles Fallworth, how dost thou dare to lift thine eyes to the Lady Alice de Moebray? Poor Miles stood silent and motionless. Sir, said he at last, in a dry choking voice, thou art right, and I have been a fool. Sir, I will never raise mine eyes to look upon the Lady Alice more. I say not that, either, boy, said the Earl, but ere thou dost so dare, thou must first place thyself and thy family, whence ye fell. Till then, as thou art an honest man, trouble her not, now get thee gone. As Miles crossed the dark and silent courtyards, and looked up at the clear, still twinkle of the stars, he felt a kind of dull wonder, that they and the night and the world should seem so much the same, and he be so different. The first stroke had been given, that was to break in pieces his boyhood life. The second was soon to follow.