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age； and that； after all； is the main requirement for friendship in boyhood's
world。 Then there was the river to bathe in； there were the hills and valleys
to roam over； and the wold and woodland； with their wealth of nuts and
birds'…nests and what not of boyhood's treasures。
Once he gained a triumph that for many a day was very sweet under
the tongue of his memory。 As was said before； he had been three times to
the market…town at fair…time； and upon the last of these occasions he had
fought a bout of quarterstaff with a young fellow of twenty； and had been
the conqueror。 He was then only a little over fourteen years old。
Old Diccon； who had gone with him to the fair； had met some cronies
of his own； with whom he had sat gossiping in the ale…booth； leaving
Myles for the nonce to shift for himself。 By…and…by the old man had
noticed a crowd gathered at one part of the fair…ground； and； snuffing a
fight； had gone running； ale…pot in hand。 Then； peering over the shoulders
of the crowd； he had seen his young master； stripped to the waist； fighting
like a gladiator with a fellow a head taller than himself。 Diccon was about
to force his way through the crowd and drag them asunder； but a second
look had showed his practised eye that Myles was not only holding his
own； but was in the way of winning the victory。 So he had stood with the
others looking on； withholding himself from any interference and
whatever upbraiding might be necessary until the fight had been brought
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to a triumphant close。 Lord Falworth never heard directly of the
redoubtable affair； but old Diccon was not so silent with the common folk
of Crosbey…Dale； and so no doubt the father had some inkling of what had
happened。 It was shortly after this notable event that Myles was formally
initiated into squirehood。 His father and mother； as was the custom； stood
sponsors for him。 By them； each bearing a lighted taper； he was escorted
to the altar。 It was at St。 Mary's Priory； and Prior Edward blessed the
sword and girded it to the lad's side。 No one was present but the four； and
when the good Prior had given the benediction and had signed the cross
upon his forehead； Myles's mother stooped and kissed his brow just where
the priest's finger had drawn the holy sign。 Her eyes brimmed bright with
tears as she did so。 Poor lady！ perhaps she only then and for the first time
realized how big her fledgling was growing for his nest。 Henceforth Myles
had the right to wear a sword。
Myles had ended his fifteenth year。 He was a bonny lad； with brown
face； curling hair； a square； strong chin； and a pair of merry laughing blue
eyes； his shoulders were broad； his chest was thick of girth； his muscles
and thews were as tough as oak。
The day upon which he was sixteen years old； as he came whistling
home from the monastery school he was met by Diccon Bowman。
〃Master Myles；〃 said the old man； with a snuffle in his voice〃Master
Myles； thy father would see thee in his chamber； and bade me send thee to
him as soon as thou didst come home。 Oh； Master Myles； I fear me that
belike thou art going to leave home to…morrow day。〃
Myles stopped short。 〃To leave home！〃 he cried。
〃Aye；〃 said old Diccon； 〃belike thou goest to some grand castle to live
there； and be a page there and what not； and then； haply； a gentleman… at…
arms in some great lord's pay。〃
〃What coil is this about castles and lords and gentlemen…at…arms？〃 said
Myles。 〃What talkest thou of； Diccon？ Art thou jesting？〃
〃Nay；〃 said Diccon； 〃I am not jesting。 But go to thy father； and then
thou wilt presently know all。 Only this I do say； that it is like thou leavest
us to… morrow day。〃
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And so it was as Diccon had said； Myles was to leave home the very
next morning。 He found his father and mother and Prior Edward together；
waiting for his coming。
〃We three have been talking it over this morning；〃 said his father； 〃and
so think each one that the time hath come for thee to quit this poor home
of ours。 An thou stay here ten years longer； thou'lt be no more fit to go
then than now。 To…morrow I will give thee a letter to my kinsman； the Earl
of Mackworth。 He has thriven in these days and I have fallen away； but
time was that he and I were true sworn companions； and plighted together
in friendship never to be sundered。 Methinks； as I remember him； he will
abide by his plighted troth； and will give thee his aid to rise in the world。
So； as I said； to…morrow morning thou shalt set forth with Diccon Bowman；
and shall go to Castle Devlen； and there deliver this letter which prayeth
him to give thee a place in his household。 Thou mayst have this afternoon
to thyself to make read such things as thou shalt take with thee。 And bid
me Diccon to take the gray horse to the village and have it shod。〃
Prior Edward had been standing looking out of the window。 As Lord
Falworth ended he turned。
〃And； Myles；〃 said he； 〃thou wilt need some money； so I will give thee
as a loan forty shillings； which some day thou mayst return to me an thou
wilt。 For this know； Myles； a man cannot do in the world without money。
Thy father hath it ready for thee in the chest； and will give it thee to…
morrow ere thou goest。〃
Lord Falworth had the grim strength of manhood's hard sense to
upbear him in sending his son into the world； but the poor lady mother had
nothing of that to uphold her。 No doubt it was as hard then as it is now for
the mother to see the nestling thrust from the nest to shift for itself。 What
tears were shed； what words of love were spoken to the only man…child；
none but the mother and the son ever knew。
The next morning Myles and the old bowman rode away； and no doubt
to the boy himself the dark shadows of leave…taking were lost in the
golden light of hope as he rode out into the great world to seek his fortune。
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CHAPTER 3
WHAT MYLES remembered of Falworth loomed great and grand and
big； as things do in the memory of childhood； but even memory could not
make Falworth the equal of Devlen Castle； when； as he and Diccon
Bowman rode out of Devlentown across the great； rude stone bridge that
spanned the river； he first saw； rising above the crowns of the trees； those
huge hoary walls； and the steep roofs and chimneys clustered thickly
together； like the roofs and chimneys of a town。
The castle was built upon a plateau…like rise of ground； which was
enclosed by the outer wall。 It was surrounded on three sides by a loop…like
bend of the river； and on the fourth was protected by a deep； broad；
artificial moat； almost as wide as the stream from which it was fed。 The
road from the town wound for a little distance along by the edge of this
moat。 As Myles and the old bowman galloped by； with the answering echo
of their horses' hoof…beats rattling back from the smooth stone face of the
walls； the lad looked up； wondering at the height and strength of the great
ancient fortress。 In his air…castle building Myles had pictured the Earl
receiving him as the son of his one…time comrade in armsreceiving him；
perhaps； with somewhat of the rustic warmth that he knew at Crosbey…
Dale； but now； as he stared at those massive walls from below； and
realized his own insignificance and the greatness of this great Earl； he felt
the first keen； helpless ache of homesickness shoot through his breast； and
his heart yearned for Crosbey…Holt again。
Then they thundered across the bridge that spanned the moat； and
through the dark shadows of the great gaping gate…way； and Diccon；
bidding him stay for a moment； rode forward to bespeak the gate…keeper。
The gate…keeper gave the two in charge of one of the men…at…arms who
were lounging upon a bench in the archway； who in turn gave them into
the care of one of the house…servants in the outer court…yard。 So； having
been passed from one to another； and having answered many questions；
Myles in due time found himself in the