preserved meat which played so great a part in the housekeeping of
the Middle Ages。
Dame Ermyntrude Loring； daughter； wife； and mother of warriors；
was herself a formidable figure。 Tall and gaunt； with hard craggy
features and intolerant dark eyes； even her snow…white hair and
stooping back could not entirely remove the sense of fear which
she inspired in those around her。 Her thoughts and memories went
back to harsher times； and she looked upon the England around her
as a degenerate and effeminate land which had fallen away from the
old standard of knightly courtesy and valor。
The rising power of the people； the growing wealth of the Church；
the increasing luxury in life and manners； and the gentler tone of
the age were all equally abhorrent to her； so that the dread of
her fierce face； and even of the heavy oak staff with which she
supported her failing limbs； was widespread through all the
country round。
Yet if she was feared she was also respected； for in days when
books were few and readers scarce； a long memory and a ready
tongue were of the more value； and where； save from Dame
Ermyntrude； could the young unlettered Squires of Surrey and
Hampshire hear of their grandfathers and their battles； or learn
that lore of heraldry and chivalry which she handed down from a
ruder but a more martial age？ Poor as she was； there was no one
in Surrey whose guidance would be more readily sought upon a
question of precedence or of conduct than the Dame Ermyntrude
Loring。
She sat now with bowed back by the empty fireplace； and looked
across at Nigel with all the harsh lines of her old ruddled face
softening into love and pride。 The young Squire was busy cutting
bird…bolts for his crossbow； and whistling softly as he worked。
Suddenly he looked up and caught the dark eyes which were fixed
upon him。 He leaned forward and patted the bony hand。
〃What hath pleased you； dear dame？ I read pleasure in your eyes。〃
〃I have heard to…day； Nigel； how you came to win that great
war…horse which stamps in our stable。〃
〃Nay； dame； I had told you that the monks had given it to me。〃
〃You said so； fair son； but never a word more。 Yet the horse
which you brought home was a very different horse I wot； to that
which was given you。 Why did you not tell me？〃
〃I should think it shame to talk of such a thing。〃
〃So would your father before you； and his father no less。 They
would sit silent among the knights when the wine went round and
listen to every man's deeds； but if perchance there was anyone who
spoke louder than the rest and seemed to be eager for honor； then
afterwards your father would pluck him softly by the sleeve and
whisper in his ear to learn if there was any small vow of which he
could relieve him； or if he would deign to perform some noble deed
of arms upon his person。 And if the man were a braggart and would
go no further； your father would be silent and none would know it。
But if he bore himself well； your father would spread his fame far
and wide； but never make mention of himself。〃
Nigel looked at the old woman with shining eyes。 〃I love to hear
you speak of him；〃 said he。 〃I pray you to tell me once more of
the manner of his death。〃
〃He died as he had lived； a very courtly gentleman。 It was at the
great sea…battle upon the Norman coast； and your father was in
command of the after…guard in the King's own ship。 Now the French
had taken a great English ship the year before when they came over
and held the narrow seas and burned the town of Southampton。
This ship was the Christopher； and they placed it in the front of
their battle； but the English closed upon it and stormed over its
side； and slew all who were upon it。
〃But your father and Sir Lorredan of Genoa； who commanded the
Christopher； fought upon the high poop； so that all the fleet
stopped to watch it； and the King himself cried aloud at the
sight； for Sir Lorredan was a famous man…at…arms and bore himself
very stoutly that day； and many a knight envied your father that
he should have chanced upon so excellent a person。 But your
father bore him back and struck him such a blow with a mace that
he turned the helmet half round on his head； so that he could no
longer see through the eye holes； and Sir Lorredan threw down his
sword and gave himself to ransom。 But your father took him by the
helmet and twisted it until he had it straight upon his head。
Then； when he could see once again； he handed him his sword； and
prayed him that he would rest himself and then continue； for it
was great profit and joy to see any gentleman carry himself so
well。 So they sat together and rested by the rail of the poop；
but even as they raised their hands again your father was struck
by a stone from a mangonel and so died。〃
〃And this Sir Lorredan；〃 cried Nigel； 〃he died also； as I
understand？〃
〃I fear that he was slain by the archers； for they loved your
father； and they do not see these things with our eyes。〃
〃It was a pity；〃 said Nigel； 〃for it is clear that he was a good
knight and bore himself very bravely。〃
〃Time was； when I was young； when commoners dared not have laid
their grimy hands upon such a man。 Men of gentle blood and
coat…armor made war upon each other； and the others； spearmen or
archers； could scramble amongst themselves。 But now all are of a
level； and only here and there one like yourself； fair son； who
reminds me of the men who are gone。〃
Nigel leaned forward and took her hands in his。 〃What I am you
have made me；〃 said he。
〃It is true； Nigel。 I have indeed watched over you as the
gardener watches his most precious blossom； for in you alone are
all the hopes of our ancient house； and soon … very soon … you
will be alone。〃
〃Nay； dear lady； say not that。〃
〃I am very old； Nigel； and I feel the shadow closing in upon me。
My heart yearns to go； for all whom I have known and loved have
gone before me。 And you … it will be a blessed day for you； since
I have held you back from that world into which your brave spirit
longs to plunge。〃
〃Nay； nay； I have been happy here with you at Tilford。〃
〃We are very poor； Nigel。 I do not know where we may find the
money to fit you for the wars。 Yet we have good friends。 There
is Sir John Chandos； who has won such credit in the French wars
and who rides ever by the King's bridle…arm。 He was your father's
friend and they were Squires together。 If I sent you to court
with a message to him he would do what he could。〃
Nigel's fair face flushed。 〃Nay； Dame Ermyntrude； I must find my
own gear； even as I have found my own horse； for I had rather ride
into battle in this tunic than owe my suit to another。〃
〃I feared that you would say so； Nigel； but indeed I know not how
else we may get the money；〃 said the old woman sadly。 〃It was
different in the days of my father。 I can remember that a suit of
mail was but a small matter in those days； for in every English
town such things could be made。 But year by year since men have
come to take more care of their bodies； there have been added a
plate of proof here and a cunning joint there； and all must be
from Toledo or Milan； so that a knight must have much metal in his
purse ere he puts any on his limbs。〃
Nigel looked up wistfully at the old armor which was slung on the
beams above him。 〃The ash spear is good；〃 said he； 〃and so is the
oaken shield with facings of steel。 Sir Roger FitzAlan handled
them and said that he had never seen better。 But the armor … 〃
Lady Ermyntrude shook her old head and laughed。 〃You have your
father's great soul； Nigel； but you have not his mighty breadth of
shoulder and length of limb。 There was not in all the King's
great host a taller or a stronger man。 His harness would be
little use to you。 No； fair son； I rede you that when the time
comes you sell this crumbling house and the few acres which are
still left； and so go forth to the wars in the hope that with your
own right hand you will plant the fortunes of a new house of
Loring。〃
A shadow of anger passed over Nigel's fresh young face。 〃I know
not if we may hold off these monks and their lawyers much longer。
This very day there came a man from Guildford with claims from the
Abbey extending back before my father's death。〃
〃Where are they； fair son？〃
〃They are flapping on the furze…bushes of Hankley； for I sent his
papers and parchments down wind as fast as ever falcon flew。〃 ‘
〃Nay！ you were mad to do that； Nigel。 And the man； where is he？〃
〃Red Swire and old George the archer threw him into the Thursley
bog。〃
〃Alas！ I fear me such things cannot be done in these days； though
my father or my husband would have sent the rascal back to
Guildford without his ears。 But the Church and the Law are too
strong now for us who are of gentler blood。 Trouble will come of
it； Nigel； for the Abbot of Waverley is not one who will hold back
the shield of the Church from those who are her servants。〃
〃The Abbot would not hurt us。 It is that gray lean wolf of a
sacrist who hungers for our land。 Let him do his worst。 I fear
him not。〃
〃He has such an engine at his back； Nigel； that even the bravest
must fear him。