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inquire more nearly concerning thee and so all be discovered and spoiled。
My brother George goeth upon the first of next month to France to take
service with the Dauphin； having under his command a company of
tenscore menknights and archers； thou shalt go with him； and there stay
till I send for thee to return。〃
With this； the protracted interview concluded； the Earl charging Myles
to say nothing further about the French expedition for the presenteven to
his friendfor it was as yet a matter of secrecy； known only to the King
and a few nobles closely concerned in the venture。
Then Myles arose to take his leave。 He asked and obtained permission
for Gascoyne to accompany him to France。 Then he paused for a moment
or two； for it was strongly upon him to speak of a matter that had been
lying in his mind all daya matter that he had dreamed of much with open
eyes during the long vigil of the night before。
The Earl looked up inquiringly。 〃What is it thou wouldst ask？〃 said he。
Myles's heart was beating quickly within him at the thought of his own
boldness； and as he spoke his cheeks burned like fire。 〃Sir；〃 said he；
mustering his courage at last； 〃haply thou hast forgot it； but I have not；
ne'theless； a long time since when I spoke of serving thethe Lady Alice
as her true knight； thou didst wisely laugh at my words； and bade me wait
first till I had earned my spurs。 But now； sir； I have gotten my spurs； and
and do now crave thy gracious leave that I may serve that lady as her true
knight。〃
A space of dead silence fell； in which Myles's heart beat tumultuously
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within him。
〃I know not what thou meanest；〃 said the Earl at last； in a somewhat
constrained voice。 〃How wouldst thou serve her？ What wouldst thou
have？〃
〃I would have only a little matter just now；〃 answered Myles。 〃I would
but crave of her a favor for to wear in the morrow's battle； so that she may
know that I hold her for my own true lady； and that I may have the
courage to fight more boldly； having that favor to defend。〃
The Earl sat looking at him for a while in brooding silence； stroking
his beard the while。 Suddenly his brow cleared。 〃So be it；〃 said he。 〃I grant
thee my leave to ask the Lady Alice for a favor； and if she is pleased to
give it to thee； I shall not say thee nay。 But I set this upon thee as a
provision： that thou shalt not see her without the Lady Anne be present。
Thus it was； as I remember； thou saw her first； and with it thou must now
be satisfied。 Go thou to the Long Gallery； and thither they will come anon
if naught hinder them。〃
Myles waited in the Long Gallery perhaps some fifteen or twenty
minutes。 No one was there but himself。 It was a part of the castle
connecting the Earl's and the Countess's apartments； and was used but
little。 During that time he stood looking absently out of the open casement
into the stony court…yard beyond； trying to put into words that which he
had to say； wondering； with anxiety； how soon the young ladies would
come； wondering whether they would come at all。 At last the door at the
farther end of the gallery opened； and turning sharply at the sound； he saw
the two young ladies enter； Lady Alice leaning upon Lady Anne's arm。 It
was the first time that he had seen them since the ceremony of the morning；
and as he advanced to meet them； the Lady Anne came frankly forward；
and gave him her hand； which Myles raised to his lips。
〃I give thee joy of thy knighthood； Sir Myles；〃 said she； 〃and do
believe； in good sooth； that if any one deserveth such an honor； thou art
he。〃
At first little Lady Alice hung back behind her cousin； saying nothing
until the Lady Anne； turning suddenly； said： 〃Come； coz； has thou naught
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to say to our new…made knight？ Canst thou not also wish him joy of his
knighthood？〃
Lady Alice hesitated a minute； then gave Myles a timid hand； which he；
with a strange mixture of joy and confusion； took as timidly as it was
offered。 He raised the hand； and set it lightly and for an instant to his lips；
as he had done with the Lady Anne's hand； but with very different
emotions。
〃I give you joy of your knighthood； sir；〃 said Lady Alice； in a voice so
low that Myles could hardly hear it。
Both flushed red； and as he raised his head again； Myles saw that the
Lady Anne had withdrawn to one side。 Then he knew that it was to give
him the opportunity to proffer his request。
A little space of silence followed； the while he strove to key his
courage to the saying of that which lay at his mind。 〃Lady；〃 said he at last；
and then again〃Lady； Ihave a favor for to ask thee。〃
〃What is it thou wouldst have； Sir Myles？〃 she murmured； in reply。
〃Lady；〃 said he； 〃ever sin I first saw thee I have thought that if I might
choose of all the world； thou only wouldst I choose forfor my true lady；
to serve as a right knight should。〃 Here he stopped； frightened at his own
boldness。 Lady Alice stood quite still； with her face turned away。 〃Thou
thou art not angered at what I say？〃 he said。
She shook her head。
〃I have longed and longed for the time；〃 said he； to ask a boon of thee；
and now hath that time come。 Lady； to…morrow I go to meet a right good
knight； and one skilled in arms and in jousting； as thou dost know。 Yea； he
is famous in arms； and I be nobody。 Ne'theless； I fight for the honor of
England and Mackworthandand for thy sake。 I Thou art not angered
at what I say？〃
Again the Lady Alice shook her head。
〃I would that thouI would that thou would give me some favor for to
wearthy veil or thy necklace。〃
He waited anxiously for a little while； but Lady Alice did not answer
immediately。
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〃I fear me；〃 said Myles； presently； 〃that I have in sooth offended thee
in asking this thing。 I know that it is a parlous bold matter for one so raw
in chivalry and in courtliness as I am； and one so poor in rank； to ask thee
for thy favor。 An I ha' offended； I prithee let it be as though I had not asked
it。〃
Perhaps it was the young man's timidity that brought a sudden courage
to Lady Alice； perhaps it was the graciousness of her gentle breeding that
urged her to relieve Myles's somewhat awkward humility； perhaps it was
something more than either that lent her bravery to speak； even knowing
that the Lady Anne heard all。 She turned quickly to him： 〃Nay； Sir Myles；〃
she said； 〃I am foolish； and do wrong thee by my foolishness and silence；
for； truly； I am proud to have thee wear my favor。〃 She unclasped； as she
spoke； the thin gold chain from about her neck。 〃I give thee this chain；〃
said she； 〃and it will bring me joy to have it honored by thy true
knightliness； and； giving it； I do wish thee all success。〃 Then she bowed
her head； and； turning； left him holding the necklace in his hand。
Her cousin left the window to meet her； bowing her head with a smile
to Myles as she took her cousin's arm again and led her away。 He stood
looking after them as they left the room； and when they were gone； he
raised the necklace to his lips with a heart beating tumultuously with a
triumphant joy it had never felt before。
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CHAPTER 26
And now； at last； had come the day of days for Myles Falworth； the
day when he was to put to the test all that he had acquired in the three
years of his training； the day that was to disclose what promise of future
greatness there was in his strong young body。 And it was a noble day； one
of those of late September； when the air seems sweeter and fresher than at
other times； the sun bright and as yellow as gold； the wind lusty and strong；
before which the great white clouds go sailing majestically across the
bright blueness of the sky above； while their dusky shadows skim across
the brown face of the