would not serve under the banner of Chandos！ Whither do you go；
fair sir？ And when do you go？ Is it to Scotland？ Is it to
Ireland？ Is it to France？ But alas； alas！〃
The eager face had clouded。 For the instant he had forgotten that
a suit of armor was as much beyond his means as a service of gold
plate。 Down in a twinkling came all his high hopes to the ground。
Oh； these sordid material things； which come between our dreams
and their fulfilment！ The Squire of such a knight must dress with
the best。 Yet all the fee simple of Tilford would scarce suffice
for one suit of plate。
Chandos； with his quick wit and knowledge of the world； had
guessed the cause of this sudden change。 〃 If you fight under my
banner it is for me to find the weapons；〃 said he。 〃Nay； I will
not be denied。〃
But Nigel shook his head sadly。 〃 It may not be。 The Lady
Ermyntrude would sell this old house and every acre round it； ere
she would permit me to accept this gracious bounty which you
offer。 Yet I do not despair； for only last week I won for myself
a noble war…horse for which I paid not a penny； so perchance a
suit of armor may also come my way。〃
〃And how won you the horse？〃
〃It was given me by the monks of Waverley。〃
〃This is wonderful。 Pardieu！ I should have expected； from what I
had seen； that they would have given you little save their
malediction。〃
〃They had no use for the horse； and they gave it to me。〃
〃Then we have only to find some one who has no use for a suit of
armor and will give it to you。 Yet I trust that you will think
better of it and let me； since that good lady proves that I am
your kinsman； fit you for the wars。〃
〃I thank you； noble sir； and if I should turn to anyone it would
indeed be to you； but there are other ways which I would try
first。 But I pray you； goon Sir John； to tell me of some of your
noble spear…runnings against the French； for the whole land rings
with the tale of your deeds and I have heard that in one morning
three champions have fallen before your lance。 Was it not so？〃
〃That it was indeed so these scars upon my body will prove； but
these were the follies of my youth。〃
〃How can you call them follies？ Are they not the means by which
honorable advancement may be gained and one's lady exalted？〃
〃It is right that you should think so； Nigel。 At your age a man
should have a hot head and a high heart。 I also had both and
fought for my lady's glove or for my vow or for the love of
fighting。 But as one grows older and commands men one has other
things to think of。 One thinks less of one's own honor and more
of the safety of the army。 It is not your own spear； your own
sword； your own arm； which will turn the tide of fight； but a cool
head may save a stricken field。 He who knows when his horsemen
should charge and when they should fight on foot； he who can mix
his archers with his men…at…arms in such a fashion that each can
support the other； he who can hold up his reserve and pour it into
the battle when it may turn the tide； he who has a quick eye for
boggy land and broken ground … that is the man who is of more
worth to an army than Roland； Oliver and all the paladins。〃
〃Yet if his knights fail him； honored sir； all his head…work will
not prevail。〃
〃True enough； Nigel； so may every Squire ride to the wars with his
soul on fire； as yours is now。 But I must linger no longer； for
the King's service must be done。 I will dress； and when I have
bid farewell to the noble Dame Ermyntrude I will on to Farnham；
but you will see me here again on the day that the King comes。〃
So Chandos went his way that evening； walking his horse through
the peaceful lanes and twanging his citole as he went； for he
loved music and was famous for his merry songs。 The cottagers
came from their huts and laughed and clapped as the rich full
voice swelled and sank to the cheery tinkling of the strings。
There were few who saw him pass that would have guessed that the
quaint one…eyed man with the yellow hair was the toughest fighter
and craftiest man of war in Europe。 Once only； as he entered
Farnham； an old broken man…at…arms ran out in his rags and
clutched at his horse as a dog gambols round his master。 Chandos
threw him a kind word and a gold coin as he passed on to the
castle。
In the meanwhile young Nigel and the Lady Ermyntrude； left alone
with their difficulties； looked blankly in each other's faces。
〃The cellar is well nigh empty；〃 said Nigel。 〃There are two
firkins of small beer and a tun of canary。 How can we set such
drink before the King and his court？〃
〃We must have some wine of Bordeaux。 With that and the mottled
cow's calf and the fowls and a goose； we can set forth a
sufficient repast if he stays only for the one night。 How many
will be with him？〃
〃A dozen； at the least。〃
The old dame wrung her hands in despair。 〃Nay； take it not to
heart； dear lady！〃 said Nigel。 〃We have but to say the word and
the King would stop at Waverley； where he and his court would find
all that they could wish。〃
〃Never！〃 cried the Lady Ermyntrude。 〃It would be shame and
disgrace to us forever if the King were to pass our door when he
has graciously said that he was fain to enter in。 Nay； I will do
it。 Never did I think that I would be forced to this； but I know
that he would wish it； and I will do it。〃
She went to the old iron coffer； and taking a small key from her
girdle she unlocked it。 The rusty hinges； screaming shrilly as
she threw back the lid； proclaimed how seldom it was that she had
penetrated into the sacred recesses of her treasure…chest。 At the
top were some relics of old finery： a silken cloak spangled with
golden stars； a coif of silver filigree； a roll of Venetian lace。
Beneath were little packets tied in silk which the old lady
handled with tender care： a man's hunting…glove； a child's shoe； a
love…knot done in faded green ribbon； some letters in rude rough
script； and a vernicle of Saint Thomas。 Then from the very bottom
of the box she drew three objects； swathed in silken cloth； which
she uncovered and laid upon the table。 The one was a bracelet of
rough gold studded with uncut rubies； the second was a gold
salver； and the third was a high goblet of the same metal。
〃You have heard me speak of these； Nigel； but never before have
you seen them； for indeed I have not opened the hutch for fear
that we might be tempted in our great need to turn them into
money。 I have kept them out of my sight and even out of my
thoughts。 But now it is the honor of the house which calls； and
even these must go。 This goblet was that which my husband； Sir
Nele Loring； won after the intaking of Belgrade when he and his
comrades held the lists from matins to vespers against the flower
of the French chivalry。 The salver was given him by the Earl of
Pembroke in memory of his valor upon the field of Falkirk。〃
〃And the bracelet； dear lady？〃
〃You will not laugh； Nigel？〃
〃Nay； why should I laugh？〃
〃The bracelet was the prize for the Queen of Beauty which was
given to me before all the high…born ladies of England by Sir Nele
Loring a month before our marriage … the Queen of Beauty； Nigel …
I； old and twisted； as you see me。 Five strong men went down
before his lance ere he won that trinket for me。 And now in my
last years … 〃
〃 Nay； dear and honored lady； we will not part with it。〃
〃Yes； Nigel； he would have it so。 I can hear his whisper in my
ear。 Honor to him was everything … the rest nothing。 Take it
from me； Nigel； ere my heart weakens。 Tomorrow you will ride with
it to Guildford； you will see Thorold the goldsmith； and you will
raise enough money to pay for all that we shall need for the
King's coming。〃 She turned her face away to hide the quivering of
her wrinkled features； and the crash of the iron lid covered the
sob which burst from her overwrought soul。
VII。 HOW NIGEL WENT MARKETING TO GUILDFORD
It was on a bright June morning that young Nigel； with youth and
springtime to make his heart light； rode upon his errand from
Tilford to Guildford town。 Beneath him was his great yellow
warhorse； caracoling and curveting as be went； as blithe and free
of spirit as his master。 In all England one would scarce have
found upon that morning so high…mettled and so debonair a pair。
The sandy road wound through groves of fir； where the breeze came
soft and fragrant with resinous gums； or over heathery downs；
which rolled away to north and to south； vast and untenanted； for
on the uplands the soil was poor and water scarce。 Over
Crooksbury Common he passed； and then across the great Heath of
Puttenham； following a sandy path which wound amid the bracken and
the heather； for he meant to strike the Pilgrims' Way where it
turned eastward from Farnham and from Seale。 As he rode he
continually felt his saddle…bag with his hand； for in it； securely
strapped； he had placed the precious treasures of the Lady
Ermyntrude。 As he saw the grand tawny neck tossing before him；
and felt the easy heave of the great horse and heard the muffled
drumming of his hoofs； he could have sung and shouted with the joy
of living。
Behind him；