The Lances of Lynwood

The chief part of the day was spent on the journey. They dined, to Arthur's glee, on provisions they had brought with them, seat

night, dismounting, ordered supper and bed, the host replied that he could indeed engage to find food, and to accommodate their s

orses, or a settle by the fire, is all we need. Here i

his pony was far more delightful, as well as more

ized his uncle's hand as he recognized the Clarenham colours and badge, uttering an exclamation of dismay. "Never fear, Arthur

must be the Lady Muriel. And surely the white veil

Squire, who looked ready for action. "Lady Muriel, the step-mother o

ation, as to a stranger, but her companion, who had lightly sprung to the ground, no sooner perceived him t

"Well met, brave youth! No wonder in that knightly figure I did not

ve not heard the ti

said Lady Muriel, much alarmed. "What mean you?

en now from laying her in her

rses of chivalry, and had found in the shy, delicate, dreamy boy, something congenial to her own quiet nature; and, in short, when Eustace indulged in a vision, Agnes was ever the lady of it, the pale slight Agnes, with no beauty save her large soft brown eyes, that seemed to follow and take in every fancy or thought of his. Agnes was looked down on,-her father thought she would do him little honour,-her brother cared not for her;

to lay aside her timidity. Agnes wept for her as a sister, and still could hardly restrain her sobs, w

d, "We, too, are bound to the Prince's court. I am to journey thither with Fulk. Were it not better for Arthur to travel with us? Most carefully would we guard him. It would spar

rave Knight's son must learn to rough it; and besides, I would not go with Sir Fulk, your bro

gnes. "What means the boy? Hath Fulk sh

r; when Eustace, beginning, "Ah, Lady, I grieve twice in the day to sadden your heart; yet since so much has been said, it were best to relate the whole truth," proceeded to tell what had passed respecting th

d not think him capable of such foul oppression. For you, my sweet Agnes-would that I could prevail on him to le

t now, even my trust in Fulk is gone; I shall see rou

"he will surely be a kind brother

her, Mother! this is loneliness indeed! In that stra

Arm-" began

imed Eustace, "that would only deem itself too muc

vingly-and Eustace hung his head abashed. "I spake of

d he: "many a false tale, many a foul slander, will be spoken of me, and many may give heed to them; but let th

from childhood, and it would go hard with me to believe aug

heart to distrust you; for then I must needs belie

the requirements of the connection of families, and of their old companionship, "now, Agnes, we must

eft the room, feeling, among all the clouds which darkened his path, one clear bright ray to warm and gladden h

ound him as noble a Knight as her fancy had often pictured him; and in the meanwhile, the good old Lady Muriel sighed to he

he couch which one of the Clarenham retainers had yielded him, and,

t. Here they met the tidings that Charles V. had summoned the Prince of Wales to appear at his court, to answer an appeal made against him to the sovereign by the vassals of the Duchy of

Brittany itself, Duke John, though bound by gratitude and affection to the alliance of the King, who had won for him his ducal coronet, was unable to control the enmity which his subjects bore

ut to justify Fulk's accusations; and there was no alternative but to accept the offer made to him by Jean de Montford, for the sake of his Duchess, a daughter

but at length he learnt that a band of Free Companions had arrived at Rennes, on their way to offer their service to the Princ

of the army taking the field, and the war was chiefly carried on by the siege of Castles. He asked for Sir John Chandos, and was told that high words had passed between him and the Prince respecting a hearth-tax, and that since he had returned to his government, and seldom or never appeared at the council board. It was the Earl of Pem

present his nephew to the Prince immediately after the noontide meal, when it wa

s were there, but as he advanced up the space between the two long tables, he was amazed at meeting scarce one friendly glance of recognition; some looked unwilling to seem to know him, and

ntle, which, even on that bright day of a southern spring, he drew closer round him with a shuddering chilliness. His elbow rested on the arm of his chair, and his wasted cheek leant on his hand-the long thin fingers of which showed white and transparent as a lady's; his eyes were bent on th

stern glance of displeasure. Eustace, however, stepped forward, and bending one knee, said, "My Lord, I come to report myself as

e hither," he added as Arthur, seeing his uncle rise and retreat a few steps, was following his example. "I loved your father well," he said, layin

n the face of the Prince with an earnest, pleading, almost upbraiding gaze, as if, child as he was, he deprecated the favour, which so evidently marked the slight shown

a large apartment. At one end was a canopy embroidered with the arms and badges of the heir of England, and beneath it were two chairs of state, one of which was occupied by Joan Plantagenet, Pr

uired whether he felt fatigued. "No, my fair dame," replied the Prince, "I came but to present you your

cle who hath broug

n had the presumption to claim the protection for him that I pledge

length of time that he has spent

o seek my Lord the Prince's protection for the child, a convenient excuse for eluding the inquiries of justice into his brawls at the funeral, as well as for the rents whic

quired into," s

and it were a pity to cast dishonour on a name which has hitherto been honourable. Since my young cousin is safe, I woul

his shoulder in the battle-field of Navaretta; yet I remember even then old Chandos c

he head of such a mere youth, so entirely without guidance, or rather, with the guidance of that dissolute Squire, w

fe, and, as you say, Fulk, that is all that is of importance. Call hither the troubadour that

ncess. He longed ardently to break in with an angry refutation of the slanders cast on his uncle, but he was too well trained in the rules of chivalry, to say nothing of the awful res

eful maiden, the Lady Maude Holland, daughter to the Princess of Wales, by her first marriage; and she kindly held out her hand to him, saying, "Come hither, my pretty pag

lants and shrubs of the south of France, and sloping gently down to the broad expanse of the blue waves of the Garonne. She looked round on all sides, and seeing no one, made a few steps forward on the greensward, then called aloud, "T

eved, "to ride on the open spa

left a

noble

geship would hardly esteem. You must try to endure the quietness of the lady's chamber

dy Maude remarked it, and following his gaze, said, "Lady Agnes de Clarenham? Ah yes, she is of kin to you. Let us go meet her." Then, as they approached, she said, "Here, Agnes, I have brought you a young cousin of yours, whom the Prince has just conducted into my mother's ch

ased to be free from the burthen

es, "what joy to see yo

y to hear the foul slanders which Sir Fulk has been telling

almost of anguish, "how could he-wh

wait for an escort. And now, Agnes, think of your brother saying that Uncle Eustace carried off the rents of Lynwo

" said

. Oh, he will be ready to die with grief! Agnes! Agnes! what is to be done? But you don't believe it!" he proceeded, se

of him; but oh, that long delay was a sore trial to

father's sake, when the truth is, he only fears that the blackness of his own designs should be seen! And G

it better now that you are here. Your presence refutes the

too! I cannot lo

n you, and grieved to see the use made of your abs

es? for there is none else in this

tepson, brother to the lady that led you to me; little Piers de Greilly, nephew to the Captal de Buch; youn

f Uncle Eustace, and of Lynwood Keep, and poor old Bla

all and bower, and the ladies' office to teach them all courtly manners, and hear them re

f the Damoiseaux is as strict as that lady said,