Wendot’s wide-open eyes gave answer enough.  Lord Montacute smiled slightly as he said: 

“Ah, thou art full young for such thoughts; and thou livest not in the atmosphere of courts, where babes are given in marriage almost from their cradles.  But listen, Res Wendot; I speak not in jest, I am a man of my word.  Thou hast risked thy life to save my little maid.  Thou art a noble youth, and I honour both thee and thy parents.  The maid has told me that she loves thee well, and would be well pleased to wed thee when she is of the age to do so.  These are but childish words, yet they may prove themselves true in days to come.  It is in the interests of all those who have the peace and prosperity of this land at heart to strengthen themselves in every way they can.  My little daughter will have an ample dower to bring her husband; and I will keep her for thee if thou wilt be willing to claim her in days to come.  I should like well to see her ruling in these fair halls; and thou hast proved already that thou art a knightly youth, whose hand she may well take with confidence and pride.

“Thy parents are willing; it waits only for thee to say.  What thinkest thou of a troth plight with the little maid?”

Wendot’s face glowed with a sort of boyish shame, not unmingled with pride; but the idea was altogether too strange and new to him to be readily grasped.

“I have never thought of such things,” he said shyly, “and I am too young to wed.  Perchance I may grow into some rough, uncouth fellow, who may please not the maiden when she reaches years of discretion.  Methinks it would scarce be fair to plight her now, at least not with such a plight as might not be broken.  If our nations meet in fierce conflict, as they yet may, it would be a cruel thing to have linked her hand with that of a rebel, for such we are called by the English monarch, they say, when we rise to fight for our liberties bequeathed by our ancestors.

“Nay, noble lord, frown not on me.  There be moments when methinks two spirits strive within me, and I am fearful of trusting even myself.  I would not that grief or sorrow should touch her through me.  Let me come and claim her anon, when I have grown to man’s estate, and can bring her lands and revenues.  But bind her not to one whose fate may be beset with perils and shadows.  There be those amongst our bards who see into the future; and they tell us that a dark fate hangs over the house of Dynevor, and that we four shall be the last to bear the name.”

Lord Montacute was looking grave and earnest.  There was something in his face which indicated disappointment, but also something that spoke of relief.  Possibly he himself had offered this troth plight with something of hesitation, offered it out of gratitude to the noble lad, and out of respect to his parents, who, as he saw, would prove valuable allies to the English cause, could they but be induced to give their allegiance to it.  Yet there was another side to the picture, too; and Wendot was too young for any one to predict with certainty what would be his course in the future.  The hot blood of his race ran in his veins; and though his judgment was cool, and he saw things in a reasonable and manly light, it would be rash to predict what the future might have in store for him.