A Boy's Ride

d out, but there were no guests, for Lady De Aldithely was determined to keep her son, if po

h her; and often into the tilt-yard to practise with our young lord Josceline; and often lieth on the rushes in the great hall at the evening time before the fire with the men-at-arms; and he goeth to the gates with the warder and the grooms; an

he was drawn to trust him, and every day confided more and more to him concerning her painful and perilous situation. "I am convinced," she s

ked symp

hers' hearts can break

senseless when h

u, Lady De Aldith

re is some one within the castle

y De Aldithely not only for her kindness to him, but for the attention she had given to Fleetfoot. At l

at him quickly. "Nay, I a

m. In a week Fleetfoot will be quite recovered. We will go forth. They who watch will

an is this? Thou lead such evil men a merry chase? Sp

declared Hugo. "If they ca

. "How if they catch thee with an arrow as they caught Fleetfoot? Thou migh

ndness, I will risk that," d

"Speak no more at present to me, and nothing on the

ently Josceline looked in at the door. "Come, Hugo!" he

of the men-at-arms, was present. And both boys liked him very well. He was not a young man, being some sixty years old, and gray and withered. He was of Irish parentage, and short in stature; and he had a tongue to which falsehood was not so much a stranger as the truth. He was also as inquisitive as a magpie, and ready to put his own ignorant construction on all that he saw and h

er on the horse's neck, and vaulted over fairly well. After h

that could not do so well as

" asked Josceline, complace

een him more times than thou art years old. A

nt from vaulting over the horse to s

, he were fit to die from shame. He can strike not much better than a baby. I could w

thless," observed Josceline, his fac

were not well that the king heard that wor

g had a cousin," observe

se be lacking in a common thing like a cousin? Thy speech is well nigh treasonable. But strike thou on. I will not stay to see thee

not harbor anger long." And so it proved. For before the two had finishe

ly spoke again to Hugo of his project.

d. "How should I abandon

itted Lady De Aldithel

bad for neither," said Hugo

, and none but thou must hear. I have discovered the traitor within our walls. For a

nd his eyes flashed

he shall no

or thee, for we

I say, he

thely. "I would tell thee the man's na

-arms, save William Lorimer, who is kindest to Josceline and me. He will b

Aldithely. "To mark what yo

" cried Hugo, indignantly. "I will spe

om him, as thou sayest, he would know at once thou hadst been warned aga

when I should l

ded with anxiety. "And what d

t might be another. For thou dids

smiled Lady De Aldithely.

leth aught to any man. And no one can w

him!" breathed

e prior," he said. "And ever he saith to me, 'In troublous

d. "May he keep his pri

y that he sho

he prior's prudence. In more than one quarter his reticence was seve

thou shalt go forth in the daylight, and that same night my son and I will flee into Scotland. There, if no one tracks our steps, we may be safe. Were

hat he was doing a knight's part in rescuing a lady in distress, though

nt in the brain of Robert Sadler, and so lead him to seek its cause. Look and act as thou hast in the past. Call to m

like to mar all without t

my counsel thou shalt freely have. And now I must tell thee th

said was, "Dost not think him very like an old cr

u knowest there is much superstition abroad in the land-too much to make it just to single out Humphrey for dislike because he is ta

it," answered H

again to me until Robert Sadler be well sped on his journey. Had I but known that he was tre

tower he found Robert Sadler waiting for him. The traitor was growing impatient and was now resolved to proceed more bol

he man-at-arms, the sudden desire he felt to look him scornfully in the face, and then turn

ld see that the boy was not his usual self, but he did not guess t

more. Perchance her ladyship will be rid

e dared to lift his eyes. Innocently he looked into the t

to his uncle. The lad wishes not to go. Therefore he looks down. Now is the time to ask him abo

ng. The boy now began to take his way toward the tilt-yard,

rder at the great gate she will trust, but it is the postern she feareth, because she thinketh an enemy might be secretly admitted there. Knowest thou where she keepeth the key? I would but know in case my lord returneth suddenly, and, perchance, pursued, since the king will

oon, then?" asked

s now safe over sea in France; but he might be lured

ed Hugo. He was learning his

the king will have our young lord Josceline to keep in his hand so that he may thereby muzzle his father, why,

t muzzle his fat

ld join with King Louis of France to fight against our king-why, then it would go ill with Josceline if he

d not otherwise be

s. "The rage of the king against all who have offen

some of such matters,"

sk the young lord Josceline, but, merry as he is, he turneth haughty if one ask what he termeth a meddling question. He would say, 'What hast thou to do

ll further endangered if h

warn thee, speak to no one of what I have said to thee, or it may be worse for thee. B

not. I have never before thoug

ll of being a knight that thou thinkest only of knightly exercises in the tilt-yard. I will sp

e there?" inquired Hugo

so speak for thee that thou wilt be page but a short while before thou art made an esquire. Do

eels is a great accomplishment. Rarely do people of any age succeed in doing so, and it w

er hand. "I must send one of you on a journey," she said. "More than one I cannot now spare to go to Chester.

the king's messengers with a troop of horse would be at hand. They would make a rush while he held parley with the old warder. They would gain entrance to the castle; Josceline would be taken, and the reward for his own treachery would be gained. He had plent

ng to do thy ladyship

smile. "I will, by thy

nd thou hast my thanks for the service. Thou shalt depart to-morrow morn, and thou shouldest return b

his day week," promised the tra

Aldithely had retired from the hall, "let