‘Be it so,’ replied Hal.  ‘It is my duty.’

‘The time seems to me to be come,’ added Musgrave, ’that my young lord should put himself forward, though it may be only in a losing cause.  Not so much for the sake of success, as to make himself a man and a noble.’

‘But what can he do?’ persisted Threlkeld; ’he has none of the training of a knight.  How can you tilt in plate armour, you who have never bestridden a charger?  These are not the days of Du Guesclin, when a lad came in from the byre and bore down all foes before him.’

The objection was of force, for the defensive armour of the fifteenth century had reached a pitch of cumbrousness that required long practice for a man to be capable of moving under it.

‘So please you, sir,’ said Hal, ’I am not wholly unskilled.  The good Sir Giles and Simon Bunce have taught me enough to strike a blow with a good will for a good cause.’

‘With horse and arms as befits him,’ began Musgrave.

‘I know not that a horse is here that could be depended on,’ began Threlkeld.  ‘Armour too requires to be fitted and proved.’

He spoke in a hesitating voice that showed his unwillingness, and Hal exclaimed, ’My longbow is mine own, and so are my feet.  Sir Giles, will you own me as an archer in your troop, where I will strive not to disgrace you or my name?’

‘Bravely spoken, young lord,’ said Sir Giles heartily; ’right willingly will I be your godfather in chivalry, since you find not one nigher home.’

‘So may it best be,’ observed his mother, ’since he is bent on going.  Thus his name and rank may be kept back till it be plain whether the enmity of my Lords of Warwick and Montagu still remain against our poor house.’

There was no desire on either side to object when the Lord Musgrave of Peelholm decided on departing early on the morrow.  Their host was evidently not sorry to speed them on their way, and his reluctant hospitality made them anxious to cumber him no longer than needful; and his mind was relieved when it was decided that the heir of the De Vescis and Cliffords should be known as Harry of Derwentdale.

Only, when all was preparation in the morning, and a hearty service had been said in the chapel, the lady called her son aside, and looking up into his dark eyes, said in a low voice, ’Be not angered with my lord husband’s prudence, my son.  Remember it is only by caution that he has saved thine head, or mine, or thy sister’s!’

‘Ay, ay, mother, I know,’ he said, more impatiently than perhaps he knew.

’It was by the same care that he preserved us all when Edgecotefield was fought.  Chafe not at him.  Thou mayst be thankful even now, mayhap, to find a shelter preserved, while that rogue and robber Nevil holds our lands.’

’I am more like to have to protect thee, lady mother, and bring thee to thy true home again!’ said Hal.