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С˵£º men of iron ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ3500×Ö

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es¡¡in¡¡due¡¡time¡¡found¡¡himself¡¡in¡¡the¡¡outer¡¡waiting¡­room¡¡sitting¡¡beside¡¡Diccon¡¡Bowman¡¡upon¡¡a¡¡wooden¡¡bench¡¡that¡¡stood¡¡along¡¡the¡¡wall¡¡under¡¡the¡¡great¡¡arch¡¡of¡¡a¡¡glazed¡¡window¡£

For¡¡a¡¡while¡¡the¡¡poor¡¡country¡¡lad¡¡sat¡¡stupidly¡¡bewildered¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡aware¡¡of¡¡people¡¡coming¡¡and¡¡going£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡aware¡¡of¡¡talk¡¡and¡¡laughter¡¡sounding¡¡around¡¡him£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡nothing¡¡but¡¡his¡¡aching¡¡homesickness¡¡and¡¡the¡¡oppression¡¡of¡¡his¡¡utter¡¡littleness¡¡in¡¡the¡¡busy¡¡life¡¡of¡¡this¡¡great¡¡castle¡£

Meantime¡¡old¡¡Diccon¡¡Bowman¡¡was¡¡staring¡¡about¡¡him¡¡with¡¡huge¡¡interest£»¡¡every¡¡now¡¡and¡¡then¡¡nudging¡¡his¡¡young¡¡master£»¡¡calling¡¡his¡¡attention¡¡now¡¡to¡¡this¡¡and¡¡now¡¡to¡¡that£»¡¡until¡¡at¡¡last¡¡the¡¡lad¡¡began¡¡to¡¡awaken¡¡somewhat¡¡from¡¡his¡¡despondency¡¡to¡¡the¡¡things¡¡around¡£¡¡Besides¡¡those¡¡servants¡¡and¡¡others¡¡who¡¡came¡¡and¡¡went£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡knot¡¡of¡¡six¡¡or¡¡eight¡¡men¡­at¡­arms¡¡with¡¡bills¡¡and¡¡pole¡­axes£»¡¡who¡¡stood¡¡at¡¡the¡¡farther¡¡door¡­way¡¡talking¡¡together¡¡in¡¡low¡¡tones£»¡¡now¡¡and¡¡then¡¡broken¡¡by¡¡a¡¡stifled¡¡laugh£»¡¡was¡¡a¡¡group¡¡of¡¡four¡¡young¡¡squires£»¡¡who¡¡lounged¡¡upon¡¡a¡¡bench¡¡beside¡¡a¡¡door¡­way¡¡hidden¡¡by¡¡an¡¡arras£»¡¡and¡¡upon¡¡them¡¡Myles's¡¡eyes¡¡lit¡¡with¡¡a¡¡sudden¡¡interest¡£¡¡Three¡¡of¡¡the¡¡four¡¡were¡¡about¡¡his¡¡own¡¡age£»¡¡one¡¡was¡¡a¡¡year¡¡or¡¡two¡¡older£»¡¡and¡¡all¡¡four¡¡were¡¡dressed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡black¡­and¡­yellow¡¡uniform¡¡of¡¡the¡¡house¡¡of¡¡Beaumont¡£

Myles¡¡plucked¡¡the¡¡bowman¡¡by¡¡the¡¡sleeve¡£¡¡¡¨Be¡¡they¡¡squires£»¡¡Diccon£¿¡¨¡¡said¡¡he£»¡¡nodding¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡door¡£

¡¨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¡¡as¡¡squire¡£¡¨

Myles¡¡stared¡¡at¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡of¡¡a¡¡sudden¡¡was¡¡aware¡¡that¡¡the¡¡young¡¡men¡¡were¡¡talking¡¡of¡¡him¡£¡¡He¡¡knew¡¡it¡¡by¡¡the¡¡way¡¡they¡¡eyed¡¡him¡¡askance£»¡¡and¡¡spoke¡¡now¡¡and¡¡then¡¡in¡¡one¡¡another's¡¡ears¡£¡¡One¡¡of¡¡the¡¡four£»¡¡a¡¡gay¡¡young¡¡fellow£»¡¡with¡¡long¡¡riding¡­¡¡boots¡¡laced¡¡with¡¡green¡¡laces£»¡¡said¡¡a¡¡few¡¡words£»¡¡the¡¡others¡¡gave¡¡a¡¡laugh£»¡¡and¡¡poor¡¡Myles£»¡¡knowing¡¡how¡¡ungainly¡¡he¡¡must¡¡seem¡¡to¡¡them£»¡¡felt¡¡the¡¡blood¡¡rush¡¡to¡¡his¡¡cheeks£»¡¡and¡¡shyly¡¡turned¡¡his¡¡head¡£

Suddenly£»¡¡as¡¡though¡¡stirred¡¡by¡¡an¡¡impulse£»¡¡the¡¡same¡¡lad¡¡who¡¡had¡¡just¡¡created¡¡the¡¡laugh¡¡arose¡¡from¡¡the¡¡bench£»¡¡and¡¡came¡¡directly¡¡across¡¡the¡¡room¡¡to¡¡where¡¡Myles¡¡and¡¡the¡¡bowman¡¡sat¡£

¡¨Give¡¡thee¡¡good¡­den£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡he¡£¡¡¡¨What¡¡be'st¡¡thy¡¡name¡¡and¡¡whence¡¡comest¡¡thou£»¡¡an¡¡I¡¡may¡¡make¡¡bold¡¡so¡¡to¡¡ask£¿¡¨

¡¨My¡¡name¡¡is¡¡Myles¡¡Falworth£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Myles£»¡¡¡¨and¡¡I¡¡come¡¡from¡¡Crosbey¡­Dale¡¡bearing¡¡a¡¡letter¡¡to¡¡my¡¡Lord¡£¡¨

¡¨Never¡¡did¡¡I¡¡hear¡¡of¡¡Crosbey¡­Dale£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡squire¡£¡¡¡¨But¡¡what¡¡seekest¡¡here£»¡¡if¡¡so¡¡be¡¡I¡¡may¡¡ask¡¡that¡¡much£¿¡¨

¡¨I¡¡come¡¡seeking¡¡service£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Myles£»¡¡¡¨and¡¡would¡¡enter¡¡as¡¡an¡¡esquire¡¡such¡¡as¡¡ye¡¡be¡¡in¡¡my¡¡Lord's¡¡household¡£¡¨

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¡¨Nay£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Myles£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡have¡¡only¡¡been¡¡at¡¡school£»¡¡and¡¡learned¡¡Latin¡¡and¡¡French¡¡and¡¡what¡¡not¡£¡¡But¡¡Diccon¡¡Bowman¡¡here¡¡hath¡¡taught¡¡me¡¡use¡¡of¡¡arms¡£

The¡¡young¡¡squire¡¡laughed¡¡outright¡£¡¡¡¨By'r¡¡Lady£»¡¡thy¡¡talk¡¡doth¡¡tickle¡¡me£»¡¡friend¡¡Myles£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡he¡£¡¡¡¨Think'st¡¡thou¡¡such¡¡matters¡¡will¡¡gain¡¡thee¡¡footing¡¡here£¿¡¡But¡¡stay£¡¡¡Thou¡¡didst¡¡say¡¡anon¡¡that¡¡thou¡¡hadst¡¡a¡¡letter¡¡to¡¡my¡¡Lord¡£¡¡From¡¡whom¡¡is¡¡it£¿¡¨

¡¨It¡¡is¡¡from¡¡my¡¡father£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Myles¡£¡¡¡¨He¡¡is¡¡of¡¡noble¡¡blood£»¡¡but¡¡fallen¡¡in¡¡estate¡£¡¡He¡¡is¡¡a¡¡kinsman¡¡of¡¡my¡¡Lord's£»¡¡and¡¡one¡¡time¡¡his¡¡comrade¡¡in¡¡arms¡£¡¨

¡¨Sayst¡¡so£¿¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡other¡£¡¡¡¨Then¡¡mayhap¡¡thy¡¡chances¡¡are¡¡not¡¡so¡¡ill£»¡¡after¡¡all¡£¡¨¡¡Then£»¡¡after¡¡a¡¡moment£»¡¡he¡¡added£º¡¡¡¨My¡¡name¡¡is¡¡Francis¡¡Gascoyne£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡will¡¡stand¡¡thy¡¡friend¡¡in¡¡this¡¡matter¡£¡¡Get¡¡thy¡¡letter¡¡ready£»¡¡for¡¡my¡¡Lord¡¡and¡¡his¡¡Grace¡¡of¡¡York¡¡are¡¡within¡¡and¡¡come¡¡forth¡¡anon¡£¡¡The¡¡Archbishop¡¡is¡¡on¡¡his¡¡way¡¡to¡¡Dalworth£»¡¡and¡¡my¡¡Lord¡¡escorts¡¡him¡¡so¡¡far¡¡as¡¡Uppingham¡£¡¡I¡¡and¡¡those¡¡others¡¡are¡¡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¡¡a¡¡confused¡¡clattering¡¡sounded¡¡in¡¡the¡¡court¡­yard¡¡without¡£¡¡¡¨Yonder¡¡are¡¡the¡¡horses¡¡now¡£¡¡They¡¡come¡¡presently¡£¡¡Busk¡¡thee¡¡with¡¡thy¡¡letter£»¡¡friend¡¡Myles¡£¡¨

The¡¡attendants¡¡who¡¡passed¡¡through¡¡the¡¡anteroom¡¡now¡¡came¡¡and¡¡went¡¡more¡¡hurriedly£»¡¡and¡¡Myles¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Earl¡¡must¡¡be¡¡about¡¡to¡¡come¡¡forth¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡hardly¡¡time¡¡to¡¡untie¡¡his¡¡pouch£»¡¡take¡¡out¡¡the¡¡letter£»¡¡and¡¡tie¡¡the¡¡strings¡¡again¡¡when¡¡the¡¡arras¡¡at¡¡the¡¡door¡­way¡¡was¡¡thrust¡¡suddenly¡¡aside£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡tall¡¡thin¡¡squire¡¡of¡¡about¡¡twenty¡¡came¡¡forth£»¡¡said¡¡some¡¡words¡¡to¡¡the¡¡young¡¡men¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡bench£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡withdrew¡¡again¡£¡¡Instantly¡¡the¡¡squires¡¡arose¡¡and¡¡took¡¡their¡¡station¡¡beside¡¡the¡¡door¡­way¡£¡¡A¡¡sudden¡¡hush¡¡fell¡¡upon¡¡all¡¡in¡¡the¡¡room£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡men¡­at¡­arms¡¡stood¡¡in¡¡a¡¡line¡¡against¡¡the¡¡wall£»¡¡stiff¡¡and¡¡erect¡¡as¡¡though¡¡all¡¡at¡¡once¡¡transformed¡¡to¡¡figures¡¡of¡¡iron¡£¡¡Once¡¡more¡¡the¡¡arras¡¡was¡¡drawn¡¡back£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡the¡¡hush¡¡Myles¡¡heard¡¡voices¡¡in¡¡the¡¡other¡¡room¡£

¡¨My¡¡Lord¡¡cometh£»¡¨¡¡whispered¡¡Gascoyne¡¡in¡¡his¡¡ear£»¡¡and¡¡Myles¡¡felt¡¡his¡¡heart¡¡leap¡¡in¡¡answer¡£

The¡¡next¡¡moment¡¡two¡¡noblemen¡¡came¡¡into¡¡the¡¡anteroom¡¡followed¡¡by¡¡a¡¡crowd¡¡of¡¡gentlemen£»¡¡squires£»¡¡and¡¡pages¡£¡¡One¡¡of¡¡the¡¡two¡¡was¡¡a¡¡dignitary¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Church£»¡¡the¡¡other¡¡Myles¡¡instantly¡¡singled¡¡out¡¡as¡¡the¡¡Earl¡¡of¡¡Mackworth¡£



CHAPTER¡¡4

He¡¡was¡¡a¡¡tall¡¡man£»¡¡taller¡¡even¡¡than¡¡Myles's¡¡father¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡a¡¡thin¡¡face£»¡¡deep¡­set¡¡bushy¡¡eyebrows£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡hawk¡¡nose¡£¡¡His¡¡upper¡¡lip¡¡was¡¡clean¡¡shaven£»¡¡but¡¡from¡¡his¡¡chin¡¡a¡¡flowing¡¡beard¡¡of¡¡iron¡­¡¡gray¡¡hung¡¡nearly¡¡to¡¡his¡¡waist¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡clad¡¡in¡¡a¡¡riding¡­gown¡¡of¡¡black¡¡velvet¡¡that¡¡hung¡¡a¡¡little¡¡lower¡¡than¡¡the¡¡knee£»¡¡trimmed¡¡with¡¡otter¡¡fur¡¡and¡¡embroidered¡¡with¡¡silver¡¡goshawksthe¡¡crest¡¡of¡¡the¡¡family¡¡of¡¡Beaumont¡£

A¡¡light¡¡shirt¡¡of¡¡link¡¡mail¡¡showed¡¡beneath¡¡the¡¡gown¡¡as¡¡he¡¡walked£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡pair¡¡of¡¡soft¡¡undressed¡¡leather¡¡riding¡­boots¡¡were¡¡laced¡¡as¡¡high¡¡as¡¡the¡¡knee£»¡¡protecting¡¡his¡¡scarlet¡¡hose¡¡from¡¡mud¡¡and¡¡dirt¡£¡¡Over¡¡his¡¡shoulders¡¡he¡¡wore¡¡a¡¡collar¡¡of¡¡enamelled¡¡gold£»¡¡from¡¡which¡¡hung¡¡a¡¡magnificent¡¡jewelled¡¡pendant£»¡¡and¡¡upon¡¡his¡¡fist¡¡he¡¡carried¡¡a¡¡beautiful¡¡Iceland¡¡falcon¡£

As¡¡Myles¡¡stood¡¡staring£»¡¡he¡¡suddenly¡¡heard¡¡Gascoyne's¡¡voice¡¡whisper¡¡in¡¡his¡¡ear£»¡¡¡¨Yon¡¡is¡¡my¡¡Lord£»¡¡go¡¡forward¡¡and¡¡give¡¡him¡¡thy¡¡letter¡£¡¨

Scarcely¡¡knowing¡¡what¡¡he¡¡did£»¡¡he¡¡walked¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡Earl¡¡like¡¡a¡¡machine£»¡¡his¡¡heart¡¡pounding¡¡within¡¡him¡¡and¡¡a¡¡great¡¡humming¡¡in¡¡his¡¡ears¡£¡¡As¡¡he¡¡drew¡¡near£»¡¡the¡¡nobleman¡¡stopped¡¡for¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡and¡¡stared¡¡at¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡Myles£»¡¡as¡¡in¡¡a¡¡dream£»¡¡kneeled£»¡¡and¡¡presented¡¡the¡¡letter¡£¡¡The¡¡Earl¡¡took¡¡it¡¡in¡¡his¡¡hand£»¡¡turned¡¡it¡¡this¡¡way¡¡and¡¡that£»¡¡looked¡¡first¡¡at¡¡the¡¡bearer£»¡¡then¡¡at¡¡the¡¡packet£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡at¡¡the¡¡bearer¡¡again¡£

¡¨Who¡¡art¡¡thou£¿¡¨¡¡said¡¡he£»¡¡¡¨and¡¡what¡¡is¡¡the¡¡matter¡¡thou¡¡wouldst¡¡have¡¡of¡¡me£¿¡¨

¡¨I¡¡am¡¡Myles¡¡Falworth£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡lad£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡low¡¡voice£»¡¡¡¨and¡¡I¡¡come¡¡seeking¡¡service¡¡with¡¡you¡£¡¨

The¡¡Earl¡¡drew¡¡his¡¡thick¡¡eyebrows¡¡quickly¡¡together£»¡¡and¡¡shot¡¡a¡¡keen¡¡look¡¡at¡¡the¡¡lad¡£¡¡¡¨Falworth£¿¡¨¡¡said¡¡he£»¡¡sharply¡¨Falworth£¿¡¡I¡¡know¡¡no¡¡Falworth£¡¡¨

¡¨The¡¡letter¡¡will¡¡tell¡¡you£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Myles¡£¡¡¡¨It¡¡is¡¡from¡¡one¡¡once¡¡dear¡¡to¡¡you¡£¡¨

The¡¡Earl¡¡took¡¡the¡¡letter£»¡¡and¡¡handing¡¡it¡¡to¡¡a¡¡gentleman¡¡who¡¡stood¡¡near£»¡¡bade¡¡him¡¡break¡¡the¡¡seal¡£¡¡¡¨Thou¡¡mayst¡¡stand£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡he¡¡to¡¡Myles£»¡¡¡¨needst¡¡not¡¡kneel¡¡there¡¡forever¡£¡¨¡¡Then£»¡¡taking¡¡the¡¡opened¡¡parchment¡¡again£»¡¡he¡¡glanced¡¡first¡¡at¡¡the¡¡face¡¡and¡¡then¡¡at¡¡the¡¡back£»¡¡and£»¡¡seeing¡¡its¡¡length£»¡¡looked¡¡vexed¡£¡¡Then¡¡he¡¡read¡¡for¡¡an¡¡earnest¡¡moment¡¡or¡¡two£»¡¡skipping¡¡from¡¡line¡¡to¡¡line¡£¡¡Presently¡¡he¡¡folded¡¡the¡¡letter¡¡and¡¡thrust¡¡it¡¡into¡¡the¡¡pouch¡¡at¡¡his¡¡side¡£¡¡¡¨So¡¡it¡¡is£»¡¡your¡¡Grace£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡he¡¡to¡¡the¡¡lordly¡¡prelate£»¡¡¡¨that¡¡we¡¡who¡¡have¡¡luck¡¡to¡¡rise¡¡in¡¡the¡¡world¡¡must¡¡ever¡¡suffer¡¡by¡¡being¡¡plagued¡¡at¡¡all¡¡times¡¡and¡¡seasons¡£¡¡Here¡¡is¡¡one¡¡I¡¡chanced¡¡to¡¡know¡¡a¡¡dozen¡¡years¡¡ago£»¡¡who¡¡thinks¡¡he¡¡hath¡¡a¡¡claim¡¡upon¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡saddles¡¡me¡¡with¡¡his¡¡son¡£¡¡I¡¡must¡¡e'en¡¡take¡¡the¡¡lad£»¡¡too£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡sake¡¡of¡¡peace¡¡and¡¡quietness¡£¡¨¡¡He¡¡glanced¡¡around£»¡¡and¡¡seeing¡¡Gascoyne£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡drawn¡¡near£»¡¡beckoned¡¡to¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¨Take¡¡me¡¡this¡¡fellow£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡he£»¡¡¡¨to¡¡the¡¡buttery£»¡¡and¡¡see¡¡him¡¡fed£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡to¡¡Sir¡¡James¡¡Lee£»¡¡and¡¡have¡¡his¡¡name¡¡entered¡¡in¡¡the¡¡castle¡¡books¡£¡¡And¡¡stay£»¡¡sirrah£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡added£»¡¡¡¨bid¡¡me¡¡Sir¡¡James£»¡¡if¡¡it¡¡may¡¡be¡¡so¡¡done£»¡¡to¡¡enter¡¡him¡¡as¡¡a¡¡squire¡­at¡­arms¡£¡¡Methinks¡¡he¡¡will¡¡be¡¡better¡¡serving¡¡so¡¡than¡¡in¡¡the¡¡household£»¡¡for¡¡he¡¡appeareth¡¡a¡¡soothly¡¡rough¡¡cub¡¡for¡¡a¡¡page¡£¡¨

Myles¡¡did¡¡look¡¡rustic¡¡enough£»¡¡standing¡¡clad¡¡in¡¡frieze¡¡in¡¡the¡¡midst¡¡of¡¡that¡¡gay¡¡company£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡murmur¡¡of¡¡laughter¡¡sounded¡¡around£»¡¡though¡¡he¡¡was¡¡too¡¡bewildered¡¡to¡¡fully¡¡understand¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡the¡¡cause¡¡of¡¡the¡¡merriment¡£¡¡Then¡¡some¡¡hand¡¡drew¡¡him¡¡backit¡¡was¡¡Gascoyne'sthere¡¡was¡¡a¡¡bustle¡¡of¡¡people¡¡passing£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡next¡¡minute¡¡they¡¡were¡¡gone£»¡¡and¡¡Myles¡¡and¡¡old¡¡Diccon¡¡Bowman¡¡and¡¡the¡¡young¡¡squire¡¡were¡¡left¡¡alone¡¡in¡¡the¡¡anteroom¡£

Gascoyne¡¡looked¡¡very¡¡sour¡¡and¡¡put¡¡out¡£¡¡¡¨Murrain¡¡upon¡¡it£¡¡¨¡¡said¡¡he£»¡¡¡¨here¡¡is¡¡good¡¡sport¡¡spoiled¡¡for¡¡me¡¡to¡¡see¡¡thee¡¡fed¡£¡¡I¡¡wish¡¡no¡¡ill¡¡to¡¡thee£»¡¡friend£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡would¡¡thou¡¡hadst¡¡come¡¡this¡¡afternoon¡¡or¡¡to¡­morrow¡£¡¨

¡¨Methinks¡¡I¡¡bring¡¡trouble¡¡and¡¡dole¡¡to¡¡every¡¡one£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Myles£»¡¡somewhat¡¡bitterly¡£¡¡¡¨It¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡better¡¡had¡¡I¡¡never¡¡come¡¡to¡¡this¡¡place£»¡¡methinks¡£¡¨

His¡¡words¡¡and¡¡tone¡¡softened¡¡Gascoyne¡¡a¡¡little¡£¡¡¡¨Ne'er¡¡mind£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡squire£»¡¡¡¨it¡¡was¡¡not¡¡thy¡¡fault£»¡¡and¡¡is¡¡past¡¡mending¡¡now¡£¡¡So¡¡come¡¡and¡¡fill¡¡thy¡¡stomach£»¡¡in¡¡Heaven's¡¡name¡£¡¨

Perhaps¡¡not¡¡the¡¡least¡¡hard¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡trying¡¡day¡¡for¡¡Myles¡¡was¡¡his¡¡parting¡¡with¡¡Diccon¡£¡¡Gascoyne¡¡and¡¡he¡¡had¡¡accompanied¡¡the¡¡old¡¡retainer¡¡to¡¡the¡¡outer¡¡gate£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡archway¡¡of¡¡which¡¡they¡¡now¡¡stood£»¡¡for¡¡without¡¡a¡¡permit¡¡they¡¡could¡¡go¡¡no¡¡farther¡£¡¡The¡¡old¡¡bowman¡¡led¡¡by¡¡the¡¡bridle¡­¡¡rein¡¡the¡¡horse¡¡upon¡¡which¡¡Myles¡¡had¡¡ridden¡¡that¡¡morning¡£¡¡His¡¡own¡¡nag£»¡¡a¡¡vicious¡¡brute£»¡¡was¡¡restive¡¡to¡¡be¡¡gone£»¡¡but¡¡Diccon¡¡held¡¡him¡¡in¡¡with¡¡tight¡¡rein¡£¡¡He¡¡reached¡¡down£»¡¡and¡¡took¡¡Myles's¡¡sturdy¡¡brown¡¡hand¡¡in¡¡his¡¡crooked£»¡¡knotted¡¡grasp¡£

¡¨Farewell£»¡¡young¡¡master£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡croaked£»¡¡tremulously£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡watery¡¡glimmer¡¡in¡¡his¡¡pale¡¡eyes¡£¡¡¡¨Thou¡¡wilt¡¡not¡¡forget¡¡me¡¡when¡¡I¡¡am¡¡gone£¿¡¨

¡¨Nay£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Myles£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡will¡¡not¡¡forget¡¡thee¡£¡¨

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¡¨Dost¡¡feel¡¡downhearted£¿¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡young¡¡squire£»¡¡curiously¡£

¡¨Nay£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Myles£»¡¡brusquely¡£¡¡Nevertheless¡¡his¡¡throat¡¡was¡¡tight¡¡and¡¡dry£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡word¡¡came¡¡huskily¡¡in¡¡spite¡¡of¡¡himself¡£



CHAPTER¡¡5

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