Page:A C Doyle - The White Company.djvu/180

152 with as much spice as would cover the thumb-nail. See that he hath a change if he come back hot from the tilting. There is goose-grease in a box, if the old scars ache at the turn of the weather. Let his blankets be dry and'

'Nay, my heart's life,' the little knight interrupted, 'trouble not now about such matters. Why so pale and wan, Edricson? Is it not enow to make a man's heart dance to see this noble company, such valiant men-at-arms, such lusty archers? By St. Paul! I should be ill to please if I were not blithe to see the red roses flying at the head of so noble a following!'

'The purse I have already given you, Edricson,' continued the lady. 'There are in it twenty-three marks, one noble, three shillings and fourpence, which is a great treasure for one man to carry. And I pray you to bear in mind, Edricson, that he hath two pair of shoes, those of red leather for common use, and the others with golden toe-chains, which he may wear should he chance to drink wine with the Prince or with Chandos.'

'My sweet bird,' said Sir Nigel, 'I am right loth to part from you, but we are now at the fringe of the forest, and it is not right that I should take the chatelaine too far from her trust.'

'But oh, my dear lord,' she cried with a trembling lip, 'let me bide with you for one furlong further—or one and a half, perhaps. You may spare me this out of the weary miles that you will journey alone.'

'Come then, my heart's comfort,' he answered. 'But I must crave a gage from thee. It is my custom, dearling, and hath been since I have first known thee, to proclaim by herald in such camps, townships, or fortalices as I may chance to visit, that my ladylove being beyond compare the fairest and sweetest in Christendom, I should deem it great honour and kindly condescension if any cavalier would run three courses against me with sharpened lances, should he chance to have a lady whose claim he was willing to advance. I pray you then, my fair dove, that you will