"Eh?" said Diccon. "Aye; they be squires.""And will my station be with them?" asked the boy.
"Aye; an the Earl take thee to service, thou'lt haply be taken assquire."Myles stared at them, and then of a sudden was aware that theyoung men were talking of him. He knew it by the way they eyedhim askance, and spoke now and then in one another's ears. One ofthe four, a gay young fellow, with long riding- boots laced withgreen laces, said a few words, the others gave a laugh, and poorMyles, knowing how ungainly he must seem to them, felt the bloodrush to his cheeks, and shyly turned his head.
Suddenly, as though stirred by an impulse, the same lad who hadjust created the laugh arose from the bench, and came directlyacross the room to where Myles and the bowman sat.
"Give thee good-den," said he. "What be'st thy name and whencecomest thou, an I may make bold so to ask?""My name is Myles Falworth," said Myles; "and I come fromCrosbey-Dale bearing a letter to my Lord.""Never did I hear of Crosbey-Dale," said the squire. "But whatseekest here, if so be I may ask that much?""I come seeking service," said Myles, "and would enter as anesquire such as ye be in my Lord's household."Myles's new acquaintance grinned. "Thou'lt make a droll squire towait in a Lord's household," said he. "Hast ever been in suchservice?""Nay," said Myles, "I have only been at school, and learned Latinand French and what not. But Diccon Bowman here hath taught meuse of arms.
The young squire laughed outright. "By'r Lady, thy talk dothtickle me, friend Myles," said he. "Think'st thou such matterswill gain thee footing here? But stay! Thou didst say anon thatthou hadst a letter to my Lord. From whom is it?""It is from my father," said Myles. "He is of noble blood, butfallen in estate. He is a kinsman of my Lord's, and one time hiscomrade in arms.""Sayst so?" said the other. "Then mayhap thy chances are not soill, after all." Then, after a moment, he added: "My name isFrancis Gascoyne, and I will stand thy friend in this matter. Getthy letter ready, for my Lord and his Grace of York are withinand come forth anon. The Archbishop is on his way to Dalworth,and my Lord escorts him so far as Uppingham. I and those othersare to go along. Dost thou know my Lord by sight?""Nay," said Myles, "I know him not."
"Then I will tell thee when he cometh. Listen!" said he, as aconfused clattering sounded in the court-yard without. "Yonderare the horses now. They come presently. Busk thee with thyletter, friend Myles."The attendants who passed through the anteroom now came and wentmore hurriedly, and Myles knew that the Earl must be about tocome forth. He had hardly time to untie his pouch, take out theletter, and tie the strings again when the arras at the door-waywas thrust suddenly aside, and a tall thin squire of about twentycame forth, said some words to the young men upon the bench, andthen withdrew again. Instantly the squires arose and took theirstation beside the door-way. A sudden hush fell upon all in theroom, and the men-at-arms stood in a line against the wall, stiffand erect as though all at once transformed to figures of iron.
Once more the arras was drawn back, and in the hush Myles heardvoices in the other room.
"My Lord cometh," whispered Gascoyne in his ear, and Myles felthis heart leap in answer.
The next moment two noblemen came into the anteroom followed by acrowd of gentlemen, squires, and pages. One of the two was adignitary of the Church; the other Myles instantly singled out asthe Earl of Mackworth.
