The White Company

ng up their huge branches to build the majestic arches of Nature's own cathedral. Beneath lay a broad carpet of the softest and greenest moss, flecked over with fallen leaves, but yielding pleasantl

distant cooing of pigeons were the only sounds which broke in upon the silence, save that once

e Saxon rising. The fate of the ancestor had been typical of that of his descendants. During three hundred years their domains had gradually contracted, sometimes through royal or feudal encroachment, and sometimes through such gifts to the Church as that with which Alleyne's father had opened the doors of Beaulieu Abbey to his younger son. The importance of the family had thus dwindled, but they still retained the old Saxon manor-house, with a couple of farms and a grove large enough to afford pannage to a hundred pigs-"sylva de centum porcis," as the old family parchments describe it. Above all, the owner of the soil could still hold his head high as the veritable Socman of Minstead-that is, a

e the order. "Who are you who walk so freely through th

estions, my friend?" said Al

your pate. But where have I

in,'" the clerk answered, recognizing the escape

k who sat so mum in the corner, and then crie

of any

ll that, cler

ot

d you have? Hast forgot that we are alone far from all men? How

with neither

urred cock and new hatched chicken!

g shall you have with my free will, and when I see my brother, the Socman of Minstead, he will raise hue and cry

d rather that hand withered and tongue was palsied ere I had struck or miscalled you. If you

if I were not, is that reason why you

ssionately. "Ill have I had from them, and ill I shall repay them. I am a

leyne. "But I pray you, since you seem to know him, to

cent, with nose to earth and tail in air. As they streamed past the silent forest around broke suddenly into loud life, with galloping of hoofs, crackling of brushwood, and the short, sharp cries of the hunters. Close behind the pack rode a fourrier and a yeoman-pricker, whooping on the laggards and encouraging the leaders, in the shril

ure was erect and soldierly, and he rode his horse with the careless grace of a man whose life had been spent in the saddle. In common garb, his masterful face and flashing eye would have marked him as one who was born to rule; but now, with his silken tunic powdered with golden fleurs-de-lis, his velvet mantle lined with the royal minever, and the lions of England stamped in silve

nt his powerful black steed. "Le cerf est p

ced man, who rode at the king's elbow. "If ye have

ere," said Alleyne, pointing, "and

bert to the man who is the first to sound the mort." He shook his bridle as he spoke, and thundered away, his knights lying low upon their horses and galloping as hard as whip and spur would drive them, in the hope of winning the king's prize. Away they drove down the long green glade-bay horses, black and gray, riders clad in every shade of velvet, fur, or silk, with glint of brazen horn

es are a birthright and an inheritance. His eyes flashed, however, and he

of Rochecourt. The night will come when I may do to thee and thine what you and your class have wrought upon mine and me. May

it was a coward's blow, and one to stir the blood and loose the tongue of the most pe

is merry men will await him ere the shadows turn from west to east. I pray you not to hold him back, for it would be an evil thing if all the stout lads were there and the leader a-m

gh he were the very centre of the universal discontent. In good truth, the commons throughout the length and breadth of the land were heart-weary of this fine game of chivalry which had been played so long at their expense. So long as knight and baron were a strength and a guard to the kingdom they might be endured, but now, when all men knew that the great battles in France had been won by English yeomen and Welsh stabbers, warlike fame, the only fame to which his class had ever aspired, appeared to have deserted the plate-clad horsemen. The sports of the lists had done much in days gone by to impress the minds of the people, but the plumed and unwieldy champion was no longer an object ei

tream swirled down the centre of this clearing, with a rude bridge flung across it, and on the other side was a second field sloping up to a long, low-lying wooden house, with thatched roof and open squares for windows. Alleyne gazed across at it with flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes-for this, he knew, must be the home o

eful figure and clear-cut, composed features. Her jet-black hair was gathered back under a light pink coif, her head poised proudly upon her neck, and her step long and springy, like that of some wild, tireless woodland creature. She held her left hand in front of her, covered with a red velvet glove, and on the wrist a little brown falcon, very fluffy and bedraggled, which she smoothed and fondled as she walked. As she came out into the sunshine, Alleyne noticed that her light gown, slashed with pink, was all stained with earth and with moss upon one side from shoulder to hem. He stood in the shadow of a

th of this first conjecture. The man stood, tall and square, blocking the entrance to the bridge, and throwing out his hands as he spoke in a wild eager fashion, while the deep tones of his stormy voice rose at times into accents of menace and of anger. She stood fearlessly in front of him, still stroking her bird; but twice she threw a swift questioning glance over her shoulder, as one who is in search of aid. So moved was the young clerk by these mute appeals, that he came forth from the trees and crossed the meadow, uncertain what to do, and yet loth to hold

little one, or you may do yourself a hurt. Must pay Saxon toll

r wed a branded serf from my father's fields. Leave go, I say--Ah! good youth, Heaven has sent you. Mak

aid Alleyne. "Surely, sir, you should take

-marked features, he was the most comely man whom Alleyne had ever seen, and yet there was something so sinister and so fell in his expression that child or b

g figure spoke her abhorrence. "Do you keep your spoon in your own broth. I rede you to go on

ich held her. He whipped it back with an oath, while she tore herself free and slipped behind Alleyne,

he land like vile rats, poking and prying into other men's concerns, too caitiff to fight and too lazy to work. By the rood! if I had my will upon ye, I should nail you upon the abbey doors, as they ha

land, then?" g

tand in the path of one whose race have been the advisers of kings and the leaders of hosts, ere ever this vile crew of Norman robbers came into the land, or

e Socman of

rse banner at the fatal fight where our shield was broken and our sword shivered. I tell you, clerk, that my folk held this land from Bramshaw Wood to the Ringwood r

pered the woman, "then sham

am well persuaded that you did but jest with this lady, and that you will now permit her to leave your land either alone or with me as a guide, if she should need one, through the

man, "there is no man in the

y the thane, by the only daughter of Aluric of Brockenhurst. Surely, dear brother," he continued, holding out his

the day of his anger. But you! Look there, rat, on yonder field where the cows graze, and on that other beyond, and on the orchard hard by the church. Do you know that all these were squeezed out of your dying father by greedy priests, to pay for your upbringing in the cloisters? I, the Socman, am shorn of my lands that you may snivel Latin and eat bread for which you never did hand's turn. You rob me first, and now you would co

ay be no better than I deserve; but, brother or no, I swear by my hopes of

e doctrine of meekness and mercy. He was conscious of a fierce wild thrill through his nerves and a throb of mad gladness at his heart, as his real human self burst for an instant the bonds of custom and of teaching which had held it

woman. "Fly, friend

Alleyne. "I shall not budge

the man: he will kill you. Come, for the Virgin's sak

eyne, looking back, saw his brother come running out of the house again, with the sun gleaming upon his hair and his

h the brown water bubbling over her feet and her hand out-stretched toward the clinging branches of bramble or sapling. Alleyne followed close at her heels, with his mind in a whirl at this black welcome and sudden shifting of all his plans and hopes. Yet, grave as were his thoughts, they would still turn to wonder as he looked at the twinkling feet of his guide

and make me work at the tapestry of the nine bold knights. She promised as much last w

pink-and-white figure, the curve of raven-black hair, and the prou

he said. "He may

l in this great wood which way we have taken. But you

im! My

him, and I read it in his eyes. Had I had your staff I would have tried-aye, and done it

is hands. "God help me!-all that is worst in me seemed to come uppermost. Another instant, and I had smitten him

you may think, sir, a very pleasant thing for me to hear that you are grieved at what you have done, and I can but rede that we should go back together, and you sh

d be so caitiff and thrall as to fail you at your need? I have turned my brother against me, and now, alas! I appear to have given you o

upon Bertrand with the horses. If poor Troubadour had not cast a shoe, we should not have had this trouble. Nay, I must have your arm: for, though I speak lightly, now that all is happily over I am as frightened as my brave Roland. See how his chest heaves, and his dear feathers all awry-the little knight who would not have his lady mi

hen, to hear my stor

you to tell it

"if it is of so little interest

eagerly, "I wou

has been a suitor for my hand, less as I think for my own sweet sake than because he hath ambition and had it on his mind that he might improve his fortunes by dipping into my father's strong box-though the Virgin knows that he would have f

t," said Alleyne, "we are

thers at his back, my father forbade that I should hawk or hunt in any part of the wood to the north of the Christchurch road. As it chanced, however, this morning my little Roland here was loosed at a strong-winged heron, and page Bertrand and I rode on, with no thoughts but for the sport, un

en, lady?" a

as on his land, but with so many courteous words besides, and such gallant bearing, that he prevailed upon me to come to his house for shelter, there to wait until the page return. By the grace of the Virg

ed Alleyne, looki

or poisoned snake. Oh, I shall loathe my lips forever! But you-how brave you were, and how quick! How m

h a tingle of pleasure at these sweet wo

horses there, for it is an old hunting-tryst of ours. Then hey for home,

our fa

geance. Some day, perchance, in joust or in tourney, knight may wish to wear my colors, and then I shall tell him that if he does indeed crave my favor there is wrong unredressed, and the wronger the So

be gentle and kind, none to be piteous and forgiving? Alas! it is a hard, cruel world, and I would that I had never left

tes it is none of thine. So it would be best, since you think so lowly of me, that you should take this path to the left while I keep on upon this one; for it is clear that I can be no fit companion for you." So saying, with downcast lids and a dignity which was somewhat marred by her bedraggled skirt, she swept off down the muddy track, leaving Alleyne standing stari

wonderments, when of a sudden there was a light rustle of the leaves behind him, and, glancing round, there was this graceful, swi

k," she said; "but I would fain kee

was my rough words which vexed you; but I have been thrown among men all my life, an

y; "say that I was right to wish

do that," he an

, but bishop or cardinal at the least. Shouldst have crozier for staff and mitre for cap. Well, well, for your sake I will forgive

"and you will find more pleasure in s

then with a sudden little cry, which had more of surpri

urls floating behind him. He sat perched on a high bay horse, and held on to the

is horse and holding the stirrup. "Troubadour galloped as far as Holmhill ere I could catch him.

e. Clerk or no, you have acted this day as becomes a true knight. King Arthur and all his table could not have done more. It may be that, as some small return, my father

o friends in the world, and they have gone to Chr

e is Chri

e brave knight, Sir Nigel Loring,

turned in her saddle and waved a last greeting. Long time he stood, half hoping that she might again come back to him; but the thud of the hoofs had died away, and there was no sound in all the woo