Page:The Chronicle of Clemendy.pdf/135

 of Sir Nicholas and Sir Dru, he was considered to lie; since they were certainly very far away, and most like, in the lands beyond the seas. But the two Clerks, who had been appointed by their lord scriveners and prothonotaries in this behalf had each a mighty quill cut broadly, and two fair skins of vellum, the one of which bore atop the limning of a dial and the words "The History of the Quest of Constancy"; and the other the limning of a vane and the words "The History of the Quest of Variety." So summer and harvest-time and Michaelmas did pass by and Christmas came bringing high revel; but the knights came not. And the snow lay deep in Wentwood as January came in; in February the rain fell down, all through the month, and March brought winds, merchandise of Moscovy; while the High Constable and his house waited for the return of the two champions. But when Eastertide was come and the hall triumphed with banqueting and mirth as it had done a year ago; the watchman above the gate called out that he saw a knight riding toward the Castle at about a mile's distance and my lord when he heard of it said Tis one of them returned with his story," and so all the company went up to the high alures along the southern wall and watched the knight as he rode along. What chattering and dispute arose as to which of the two it were, or whether it were either of them, I need not tell you; but presently Mistress Alicia cried out Tis our true knight Sir Nicholas, I know his bearing and the paces of his horse," and she was indeed in the