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seat of hog…skinand bade Myles be seated。
It was the first time that Myles had ever heard of such courtesy being
extended to one of the company of squires； and； much wondering； he
obeyed the invitation； or rather command； and took the seat。
The old knight sat regarding him for a while in silence； his one eye； as
bright and as steady as that of a hawk； looking keenly from under the
penthouse of its bushy brows； the while he slowly twirled and twisted his
bristling wiry mustaches； as was his wont when in meditation。 At last he
broke the silence。 〃How old art thou？〃 said he； abruptly。
〃I be turned seventeen last April；〃 Myles answered； as he had the
evening before to Lord Mackworth。
〃Humph！〃 said Sir James； 〃thou be'st big of bone and frame for thine
age。 I would that thy heart were more that of a man likewise； and less that
of a giddy； hare…brained boy； thinking continually of naught but mischief。〃
Again he fell silent； and Myles sat quite still； wondering if it was on
account of any special one of his latest escapades that he had been
summoned to the officethe breaking of the window in the Long Hall by
the stone he had flung at the rook； or the climbing of the South Tower for
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the jackdaw's nest。
〃Thou hast a friend；〃 said Sir James； suddenly breaking into his
speculations； 〃of such a kind that few in this world possess。 Almost ever
since thou hast been here he hath been watching over thee。 Canst thou
guess of whom I speak？〃
〃Haply it is Lord George Beaumont；〃 said Myles； 〃he hath always
been passing kind to me。
〃Nay；〃 said Sir James； 〃it is not of him that I speak； though methinks
he liketh thee well enow。 Canst thou keep a secret； boy？〃 he asked；
suddenly。
〃Yea；〃 answered Myles。
〃And wilt thou do so in this case if I tell thee who it is that is thy best
friend here？〃
〃Yea。〃
〃Then it is my Lord who is that friendthe Earl himself； but see that
thou breathe not a word of it。〃
Myles sat staring at the old knight in utter and profound amazement；
and presently Sir James continued： 〃Yea； almost ever since thou hast come
here my Lord hath kept oversight upon all thy doings； upon all thy mad
pranks and thy quarrels and thy fights； thy goings out and comings in。
What thinkest thou of that； Myles Falworth？〃
Again the old knight stopped and regarded the lad； who sat silent；
finding no words to answer。 He seemed to find a grim pleasure in the
youngster's bewilderment and wonder。 Then a sudden thought came to
Myles。
〃Sir；〃 said he； 〃did my Lord know that I went to the privy garden as I
did？〃
〃Nay；〃 said Sir James； 〃of that he knew naught at first until thy father
bade thy mother write and tell him。〃
〃My father！〃 ejaculated Myles。
〃Aye；〃 said Sir James； twisting his mustaches more vigorously than
ever。 〃So soon as thy father heard of that prank； he wrote straightway to
my Lord that he should put a stop to what might in time have bred
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mischief。〃
〃Sir；〃 said Myles； in an almost breathless voice； 〃I know not how to
believe all these things； or whether I be awake or a…dreaming。〃
〃Thou be'st surely enough awake；〃 answered the old man； 〃but there
are other matters yet to be told。 My Lord thinketh； as others of us doLord
George and myselfthat it is now time for thee to put away thy boyish
follies； and learn those things appertaining to manhood。 Thou hast been
here a year now； and hast had freedom to do as thou might list； but； boy〃
and the old warrior spoke seriously； almost solemnly〃upon thee doth rest
matters of such great import that did I tell them to thee thou couldst not
grasp them。 My Lord deems that thou hast； mayhap； promise beyond the
common of men； ne'theless it remaineth yet to be seen an he be right； it is
yet to test whether that promise may be fulfilled。 Next Monday I and Sir
Everard Willoughby take thee in hand to begin training thee in the
knowledge and the use of the jousting lance； of arms； and of horsemanship。
Thou art to go to Ralph Smith； and have him fit a suit of plain armor to
thee which he hath been charged to make for thee against this time。 So get
thee gone； think well over all these matters； and prepare thyself by next
Monday。 But stay； sirrah；〃 he added； as Myles； dazed and bewildered；
turned to obey； 〃breathe to no living soul what I ha' told theethat my
Lord is thy friendneither speak of anything concerning him。 Such is his
own heavy command laid upon thee。〃
Then Myles turned again without a word to leave the room。 But as he
reached the door Sir James stopped him a second time。
〃Stay！〃 he called。 〃I had nigh missed telling thee somewhat else。 My
Lord hath made thee a present this morning that thou wottest not of。 It is〃…
…then he stopped for a few moments； perhaps to enjoy the full flavor of
what he had to say〃it is a great Flemish horse of true breed and right
mettle； a horse such as a knight of the noblest strain might be proud to call
his own。 Myles Falworth； thou wert born upon a lucky day！〃
〃Sir；〃 cried Myles； and then stopped short。 Then； 〃Sir；〃 he cried again；
〃didst thou say itthe horsewas to be mine？〃
〃Aye； it is to be thine。〃
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〃My very own？〃
〃Thy very own。〃
How Myles Falworth left that place he never knew。 He was like one in
some strange； some wonderful dream。 He walked upon air； and his heart
was so full of joy and wonder and amazement that it thrilled almost to
agony。 Of course his first thought was of Gascoyne。 How he ever found
him he never could tell； but find him he did。
〃Come； Francis！〃 he cried； 〃I have that to tell thee so marvellous that
had it come upon me from paradise it could not be more strange。〃
Then he dragged him away to their Eyryit had been many a long day
since they had been thereand to all his friend's speeches； to all his
wondering questions； he answered never a word until they had climbed the
stairs； and so come to their old haunt。 Then he spoke。
〃Sit thee down； Francis；〃 said he； 〃till I tell thee that which passeth
wonder。〃 As Gascoyne obeyed； he himself stood looking about him。 〃This
is the last time I shall ever come hither；〃 said he。 And thereupon he poured
out his heart to his listening friend in the murmuring solitude of the airy
height。 He did not speak of the Earl； but of the wonderful new life that had
thus suddenly opened before him； with its golden future of limitless hopes；
of dazzling possibilities； of heroic ambitions。 He told everything； walking
up and down the whilefor he could not remain quiethis cheeks glowing
and his eyes sparkling。
Gascoyne sat quite still； staring straight before him。 He knew that his
friend was ruffling eagle pinions for a flight in which he could never hope
to follow； and somehow his heart ached； for he knew that this must be the
beginning of the end of the dear； delightful friendship of the year past。
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CHAPTER 22
And so ended Myles Falworth's boyhood。 Three years followed；
during which he passed through that state which immediately follows
boyhood in all men's livesa time when they are neither lads nor grown
men； but youths passing from the one to the other period through what is
often an uncouth and uncomfortable age。
He had fancied； when he talked with Gascoyne in the Eyry that time；
that he was to become a man all at once； he felt just then that he had
forever done with boyish things。 But that is not the way it happens in
men's lives。 Changes do not come so suddenly and swiftly as that； but by
little and little。 For three or four days； maybe； he went his new way of life
big with the great change that had co