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Rh Sir Nigel, who had entered the room with a silvery-haired old lady upon his arm, stared aghast at this sudden burst of candour.

'Maude, Maude!' said he, shaking his head, 'it is more hard for me to gain obedience from you than from the ten score drunken archers who followed me to Guienne. Yet, hush! little one, for your fair lady-mother will be here anon, and there is no need that she should know it. We will keep you from the provost-marshal this journey. Away to your chamber, sweeting, and keep a blithe face, for she who confesses is shriven. And now, fair mother,' he continued when his daughter had gone, 'sit you here by the fire, for your blood runs colder than it did. Alleyne Edricson, I would have a word with you, for I would fain that you should take service under me. And here in good time comes my lady, without whose counsel it is not my wont to decide aught of import; but, indeed, it was her own thought that you should come.'

'For I have formed a good opinion of you, and can see that you are one who may be trusted,' said the Lady Loring. 'And in good sooth my dear lord hath need of such a one by his side, for he recks so little of himself that there should be one there to look to his needs and meet his wants. You have seen the cloisters: it were well that you should see the world too, ere you make choice for life between them.'

'It was for that very reason that my father willed that I should come forth into the world at my twentieth year,' said Alleyne.

'Then your father was a man of good counsel,' said she, 'and you cannot carry out his will better than by going on this path, where all that is noble and gallant in England will be your companions.' 'You can ride?' asked Sir Nigel, looking at the youth with puckered eyes.

'Yes, I have ridden much at the abbey.'

'Yet there is a difference betwixt a friar's hack and a warrior's destrier. You can sing and play?'

'On citole, flute, and rebeck.'