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220 'Ready to chastise insolence, sir!' cried Alleyne with flashing eyes.

'Sweet little coz!' answered the burly squire. 'Such a dainty colour! Such a mellow voice! Eyes of a bashful maid, and hair like a three years' babe! Voilà!' He passed his thick fingers roughly through the youth's crisp golden curls.

'You seek to force a quarrel, sir,' said the young man, white with anger.

'And what then?'

'Why, you do it like a country boor, and not like a gentle squire. Hast been ill bred and as ill taught? I serve a master who could show you how such things should be done.'

'And how would he do it, oh pink of squires?' 'He would neither be loud nor would he be unmannerly, but rather more gentle than is his wont. He would say, "Sir, I should take it as an honour to do some small deed of arms against you, not for mine own glory or advancement, but rather for the fame of my lady and for the upholding of chivalry." Then he would draw his glove, thus, and throw it on the ground: or, if he had cause to think that he had to deal with a churl, he might throw it in his face—as I do now!'

A buzz of excitement went up from the knot of squires as Alleyne, his gentle nature turned by this causeless attack into fiery resolution, dashed his glove with all his strength into the sneering face of his antagonist. Prom all parts of the hall squires and pages came running, until a dense swaying crowd surrounded the disputants.

'Your life for this!' said the bully, with a face which was distorted with rage.

'If you can take it,' returned Alleyne.

'Good lad!' whispered Ford. 'Stick to it close as wax.'

'I shall see justice,' cried Norbury, Sir Oliver's silent attendant.

'You brought it upon yourself, John Tranter,' said the