The Young Visiters or, Mr. Salteena's Plan

ehension in the one case and of terror in the other. For the Lady Margaret was divided between joy and love and the sad and sorrowful gaze that th

his Sir Bertram quailed like a dog before thoughts of death, sorcery, the omens of superstition and hell fire. So he crossed himself again and again. For, though much of his talk with those ladies had been wary and cautious, he had very sincerely believed wh

stone doorway with pleasant eyes, for she believed neither in the sorceries

s of her lord and love. And there he stood in his armour of state, fluted, with long steel shoes and a round helmet without a plume, like the head of a bull-dog. This suit of armour she had last seen upon th

suit was no sorcery bu

law and the like. But certain hangings and furniture they sold for a good price to a German of Sunderland, who shipped them beyond the seas. And certain arms that they had, more than they had men for, they sold for what little these would fetch to certain armourers of the town of Morpeth. Amongst these had been this suit of state. For this suit was too small for the Decies; it had galled him very uncomfortably beneath the arm-pits and between the thighs, when he had played the part of his half-brother, and he had been heartily glad to be out of it.

the monastery, so they must come along with the Young Lovell. And, ever as he rode along-and he went slowly for that purpose-came men-at-arms and bowmen hastening out of the hay-fields, where they had taken service, to come under the banner of the Young Lovell, until he had forty men and more. And at a cross in the hill-paths, ten miles below Belford, there were awaiting them Cressingham and La Rougerie, esquires that had been in service at Castle Lovell. They were well armed, upon little Scots horses, and came out

Broom Park and Overthwarts and across the North Forest, going south and to the east of Rothbury. There they deemed themselves safe of the Percy, and they could take to the lower grounds and such roads as there were. Ther

re there were slates or stone roofing, the rains and snows had penetrated to the upper floors. Nevertheless the lower rooms were sound enough. So the Young Lovell said that that night he would sleep there. Mattresses and bedding were brought from the bondsmen of that place for the Young Lovell, the monk and the two esquires; the men slept very well upon straw in the stables. Also the Young Lovell sent the esquire Cressingham with the men t

e Knights of Cullerford and Haltwhistle. This man the esquire had brought with him and he proved of much use. For, in the first place, he had taken some money which he had about him and, in the second, he had a great book of accounts which showed what was due to the Lady Rohtraut from each holding. So they kept that fellow in a stable, t

lands of the Lord Lovell and his mother. They had that false bailiff well trussed upon a little horse to show them the way; but long before noon he had begged to be a

le carcases of oxen, swine and sheep, to the number of five hundred or more. So, when he had showed La Rougerie the weak places he had discovered the night before, he took thirty of his men for the greater safety and rode unto the town of Morpeth, Here he sent for the bailiff of that town to come to the market place and told him that his errand was very peaceable. For he desired to buy arms and bows for twenty of his men, with twenty-five pikes and two hundred barrels of arrows and several pack-horses, and a saker or two for the defence of Castle Cramlin and ten or more pack-horses to carry all these things. So the bailiff of that town answered him very civilly saying that he was glad of that lord's visit because he was akin to the Dacres and the Ogles and the Bertrams and other lords that had been friends to the good town of Morpeth. And he did what he could amongst the armourers and citizens that had arms to sell. So, in a short time, the Young Lovell had

ns and carpenters enough to do his work roughly in a week's time, and afterwards to amend it fairly and in permanence. And, towards six, came back the monk Francis and the others with good news of the bondsmen's submission. They drove before them three young oxen and over thirty sheep and lambs, and these things were offerings from the various hamlets of the Lady Rohtraut, together with el

as, he said it was because of his cousin that he had slain. One thing that had given heart to the Young Lovell was this, that amongst the arms that had come from Castle Lovell unto the hands of the Morpeth armourers was a fair lance and rolled round it a small fine

ears and the esquire Cressingham to bear the banner, who was a fine man of thirty with good armour of his own. And the twenty spears should be all fine men on the best horses that they had. So they should make a fa

, should remain to hold Castle Cramlin for the Young Lovell and to aid in the buildings th

He seemed to survey them for a space through the opening of his helmet. This he had kept closed in riding through the city for fear any friend of the Knights o

mined chin. The Lady Margaret knew that he had a pleasant smile but he showed none of it then, and he paid no attention either to her or to the Cornish knight. His grandmother regarded him with a keen, hostile glance, and with

my Granddam, to whom

inning, by Our Lady

ou," he continued in firm tones, "b

etter and better,"

due awe and natural affection, that I had n

s cried out. "By Our Lady, I

tall enough though he knelt, appeared like a great hound,

lowly, "I cannot easily say what I wou

d then said jeeringly: "If you had business in the town, stiff grandson of mine, say you had business: if you were gone after

hough the old lady grunted and mumbled. "I did

ssoilment?

wered

in, witting a

n," she said

, "I did not know if I were a fit

d by a dab of pitch. If you never showed yourself but after

news. And when I have the pardon of the Bishop and have paid forfeit, or what it is, I will get more of my men. For my standard is set up in Castle Cramlin and my men come to it from here an

old lady said. "B

und and stood beside the Princes

e said, "may I ask y

ng Lovell said, "you shall

nswered, "but the commissioner

Percy," the Young Lovell said. "Ge

he old Prince

ramlin? Then without doubt you have t

e taken and hold them for my mother. And so I will do for

ess said. "Get you gone." The Young Lovell

now that ye have a lawsuit with my

hem from me." She leaned out from her chair and cried these words into his face, her own

t talk of lawsuits. They h

y God, I will take a score of my fellows an

ave six score. How the rights of this lawsuit may be I do not know. But my mother's necessity is great. She has languished for a quarter year in prison during which time you have done nothing for he

ut when he was on his feet and near the door, she ran down from that throne-step, and her rich robes and her great veil ran out behind her. The Cornish knight was already in the stairway, and t

said so much, because she had spoken before he had, she had said too much fo

with stern and

said, "you are plighte

l. Would you believe I am in a tale

like the harsh bark of the male

cried out, "ye s

ke the sound of a story heard over and over again. And hot an

abaster. And he remembered that all things, to pursue a fair course, must go on as they before would have gone-e

sily find words; that was very difficult speaking for him; for still this lady was wearisome beyond endurance to him, because of the lady of the doves and sparrows. But he would not let her see this, for he knew she

yours and my towers of Glororem and on Wearside; and all my red gold and all my jewels of price. And all my men-at-arms a

e might avoid her touch. And he said "No! No!" That he said because it seemed horrible to him to have her aid in the reta

urteously, and stretched out his

shall be, and I thank you. And peaceful times

ittle strangely; but sh

man under a ban, so I think I may not do it until my lord the Prince Bishop shall

n well schooled, and, whereas, she might well, if she would, give him her towers and lands and men and bondsmen, still she could not go against the ban of the Church; for

ly as he could-for when the head of the axe

shall we not make merry as in the old time? Aye, surely, for if you will, I will well. And so, that it may be the sooner done, I will go to tha

him. For she had never seen him so earnest and so sober. He seemed the older by twenty years,

at lord could not pass him or get to the street. And hot rage was already in that lording's heart, for never had he talked so painfully as he had done to that Lady Margaret, and it seem

of Northumberland. Let me say presently that by my office I stand above that lord

n and gazed upon this man beneath t

n," h

"I have heard you twice say ye were beneath a ban. Now

oosened his dagger

e said, "ye were neve

the ban from you, yet I, Sir Bertram of Lyonesse, who have some skill at inquiries, will so put this matter to the King and dread lord that, without more words said, that judgment of the Warden's Court against you shall be revised, and if those false Knights shall withhold your Castle from you you shall have instant licence to take it agai

stand aside from that door and see a thing....

ll, being open, was of thick oak, studded with large bosses of iron. The Young Lovell brought forward that dagger over his head and it sank in

ell said, "seek to w

annot do," Sir

ur throat. And this I tell you: there is no knight in all the North parts that could have done that, and I think none in all Christendom. How it may be in He

le lording," the Cornish knight answered, and aga

uld be well if the Percy let me be. For-an he will not I will come to Alnwick and to Warkworth with twice four thousand men for this Percy is little beloved. And so, with scal

tram said, "I tell you that j

as good servants; for no man ever went nearer his death than you when you spoke to me now. And I think you know it well, yet you gave no ground and spoke on. I do not like your kind, for I have seen some of them about the