him　not。〃
  〃He　has　such　an　engine　at　his　back；　Nigel；　that　even　the　bravest
  must　fear　him。　　The　ban　which　blasts　a　man's　soul　is　in　the
  keeping　of　his　church；　and　what　have　we　to　place　against　it？　　I
  pray　you　to　speak　him　fair；　Nigel。〃
  〃Nay；　dear　lady；　it　is　both　my　duty　and　my　pleasure　to　do　what　you
  bid　me；　but　I　would　die　ere　I　ask　as　a　favor　that　which　we　can
  claim　as　a　right。　　Never　can　I　cast　my　eyes　from　yonder　window
  that　I　do　not　see　the　swelling　down…lands　and　the　rich　meadows；
  glade　and　dingle；　copse　and　wood；　which　have　been　ours　since
  Norman…William　gave　them　to　that　Loring　who　bore　his　shield　at
  Senlac。　　Now；　by　trick　and　fraud；　they　have　passed　away　from　us；
  and　many　a　franklin　is　a　richer　man　than　I；　but　never　shall　it　be
  said　that　I　saved　the　rest　by　bending　my　neck　to　their　yoke。　　Let
  them　do　their　worst；　and　let　me　endure　it　or　fight　it　as　best　I
  may。〃
  The　old　lady　sighed　and　shook　her　head。　　〃You　speak　as　a　Loring
  should；　and　yet　I　fear　that　some　great　trouble　will　befall　us。
  But　let　us　talk　no　more　of　such　matters；　since　we　cannot　mend
  them。　　Where　is　your　citole；　Nigel？　　Will　you　not　play　and　sing　to
  me？〃
  The　gentleman　of　those　days　could　scarce　read　and　write；　but　he
  spoke　in　two　languages；　played　at　least　one　musical　instrument　as
  a　matter　of　course；　and　possessed　a　number　of　other
  accomplishments；　from　the　imping　of　hawk's　feathers；　to　the
  mystery　of　venery；　with　knowledge　of　every　beast　and　bird；　its
  time　of　grace　and　when　it　was　seasonable。　　As　far　as　physical
  feats　went；　to　vault　barebacked　upon　a　horse；　to　hit　a　running
  hare　with　a　crossbow…bolt；　or　to　climb　the　angle　of　a　castle
  courtyard；　were　feats　which　had　come　by　nature　to　the　young
  Squire；　but　it　was　very　different　with　music；　which　had　called　for
  many　a　weary　hour　of　irksome　work。　　Now　at　last　he　could　master
  the　strings；　but　both　his　ear　and　his　voice　were　not　of　the　best；
  so　that　it　was　well　perhaps　that　there　was　so　small　and　so
  unprejudiced　an　audience　to　the　Norman…French　chanson；　which　he
  sang　in　a　high　reedy　voice　with　great　earnestness　of　feeling；　but
  with　many　a　slip　and　quaver；　waving　his　yellow　head　in　cadence　to
  the　music：
  A　sword！　　A　sword！　　Ah；　give　me　a　sword！
  For　the　world　is　all　to　win。
  Though　the　way　be　hard　and　the　door　be　barred；
  The　strong　man　enters　in。
  If　Chance　and　Fate　still　hold　the　gate；
  Give　me　the　iron　key；
  And　turret　high　my　plume　shall　fly；
  Or　you　may　weep　for　me！
  A　horse！　　A　horse！　　Ah；　give　me　a　horse！
  To　bear　me　out　afar；
  Where　blackest　need　and　grimmest　deed
  And　sweetest　perils　are。
  Hold　thou　my　ways　from　glutted　days
  Where　poisoned　leisure　lies；
  And　point　the　path　of　tears　and　wrath
  Which　mounts　to　high　emprise！
  A　heart！　　A　heart！　　Ah；　give　me　a　heart
  To　rise　to　circumstance！
  Serene　and　high　and　bold　to　try
  The　hazard　of　the　chance；
  With　strength　to　wait；　but　fixed　as　fate
  To　plan　and　dare　and　do；
  The　peer　of　all；　and　only　thrall；
  Sweet　lady　mine；　to　you！
  It　may　have　been　that　the　sentiment　went　for　more　than　the　music；
  or　it　may　have　been　the　nicety　of　her　own　ears　had　been　dulled　by
  age；　but　old　Dame　Ermyntrude　clapped　her　lean　hands　together　and
  cried　out　in　shrill　applause。
  〃Weathercote　has　indeed　had　an　apt　pupil！〃　she　said。　　〃I　pray　you
  that　you　will　sing　again。〃
  〃Nay；　dear　dame；　it　is　turn　and　turn　betwixt　you　and　me。　　I　beg
  that　you　will　recite　a　romance；　you　who　know　them　all。　　For　all
  the　years　that　I　have　listened　I　have　never　yet　come　to　the　end　of
  them；　and　I　dare　swear　that　there　are　more　in　your　head　than　in
  all　the　great　books　which　they　showed　me　at　Guildford　Castle。　　I
  would　fain　hear　‘Doon　of　Mayence；'　or　‘The　Song　of　Roland；'　or
  ‘Sir　Isumbras。'〃
  So　the　old　dame　broke　into　a　long　poem；　slow　and　dull　in　the
  inception；　but　quickening　as　the　interest　grew；　until　with　darting
  hands　and　glowing　face　she　poured　forth　the　verses　which　told　of
  the　emptiness　of　sordid　life；　the　beauty　of　heroic　death；　the　high
  sacredness　of　love　and　the　bondage　of　honor。　　Nigel；　with　set；
  still　features　and　brooding　eyes；　drank　in　the　fiery　words；　until
  at　last　they　died　upon　the　old　woman's　lips　and　she　sank　back
  weary　in　her　chair。
  Nigel　stooped　over　her　and　kissed　her　brow。　　〃Your　words　will　ever
  be　as　a　star　upon　my　path；〃　said　he。　　Then；　carrying　over　the
  small　table　and　the　chessmen；　he　proposed　that　they　should　play
  their　usual　game　before　they　sought　their　rooms　for　the　night。
  But　a　sudden　and　rude　interruption　broke　in　upon　their　gentle
  contest。　　A　dog　pricked　its　ears　and　barked。　　The　others　ran
  growling　to　the　door。　　And　then　there　came　a　sharp　clash　of　arms；
  a　dull　heavy　blow　as　from　a　club　or　sword…pommel；　and　a　deep　voice
  from　without　summoned　them　to　open　in　the　King's　name。　　The　old
  dame　and　Nigel　had　both　sprung　to　their　feet；　their　table
  overturned　and　their　chessmen　scattered　among　the　rushes。　　Nigel's
  hand　had　sought　his　crossbow；　but　the　Lady　Ermyntrude　grasped　his
  arm。
  〃Nay；　fair　son！　　Have　you　not　heard　that　it　is　in　the　King's
  name？〃　said　she。　　〃Down；　Talbot！　　Down；　Bayard！　！　　Open　the　door
  and　let　his　messenger　in！〃
  Nigel　undid　the　bolt；　and　the　heavy　wooden　door　swung　outward　upon
  its　hinges。　　The　light　from　the　flaring　cressets　beat　upon　steel
  caps　and　fierce　bearded　faces；　with　the　glimmer　of　drawn　swords
  and　the　yellow　gleam　of　bowstaves。　　A　dozen　armed　archers　forced
  their　way　into　the　room。　　At　their　head　were　the　gaunt　sacrist　of
  Waverley　and　a　stout　elderly　man　clad　in　a　red　velvet　doublet　and
  breeches　much　stained　and　mottled　with　mud　and　clay。　　He　bore　a
  great　sheet　of　parchment　with　a　fringe　of　dangling　seals；　which　he
  held　aloft　as　he　entered。
  〃I　call　on　Nigel　Loring！〃　he　cried。　　〃I；　the　officer　of　the　King's
  law　and　the　lay　summoner　of　Waverley；　call　upon　the　man　named
  Nigel　Loring！〃
  〃I　am　he。〃
  〃Yes；　it　is　he！〃　cried　the　sacrist。　　〃Archers；　do　as　you　were
  ordered！〃
  In　an　instant　the　band　threw　themselves　upon　him　like　the　hounds
  on　a　stag。　　Desperately　Nigel　strove　to　gain　his　sword　which　lay
  upon　the　iron　coffer。　　With　the　convulsive　strength　which　comes
  from　the　spirit　rather　than　from　the　body；　he　bore　them　all　in
  that　direction；　but　the　sacrist　snatched　the　weapon　from　its
  place；　and　the　rest　dragged　the　writhing　Squire　to　the　ground　and
  swathed　him　in　a　cord。
  〃Hold　him　fast；　good　archers！　　Keep　a　stout　grip　on　him！〃　cried
  the　summoner。　　〃I　pray　you；　one　of　you；　prick　off　these　great　dogs
  which　snarl　at　my　heels。　　Stand　off；　I　say；　in　the　name　of　the
  King！　　Watkin；　come　betwixt　me　and　these　creatures　who　have　as
  little　regard　for　the　law　as　their　master。〃
  One　of　the　archers　kicked　off　the　faithful　dogs。　　But　there　were
  others　of　the　household　who　were　equally　ready　to　show　their　teeth
  in　defense　of　the　old　house　of　Loring。　　From　the　door　which　led　to
  their　quarters　there　emerged　the　pitiful　muster　of　Nigel's
  threadbare　retainers。　　There　was　a　time　when　ten　knights；　forty
  men…at…arms　and　two　hundred　archers　would　march　behind　the　scarlet
  roses。　　Now　at　this　last　rally　when　the　young　head　of　the　house
  lay　bound　in　his　own　hall；　there　mustered　at　his　call　the　page
  Charles　with　a　cudgel；　John　the　cook　with　his　longest　spit；　Red
  Swire　the　aged　man…at…arms　with　a　formidable　ax　swung　over　his
  snowy　head；　and　Weathercote　the　minstrel　with　a　boar…spear。　　Yet
  this　motley　array　was　fired　with　the　spirit　of　the　house；　and
  under　the　lead　of　the　fierce　old　soldier　they　would　certainly　have
  flung　themselves　upon　the　ready　swords　of　the　archers；　had　the
  Lady　Ermyntrude　not　swept　between　them：
  〃Stand　back；　Swire！〃　she　cried。　　〃Back；　Weathercote　Charles；　put　a
  leash　on　Talbot；　and　hold　Bayard　back！〃　　Her　black　eyes　blazed
  upon　the　invaders　until　they　shrank　from　that　baleful　gaze。　　〃Who
  are　you；　you　rascal　robbers；　who　dare　to　misuse　the　King's　name
  and　to　lay　hands　upon　one　whose　smallest　drop　of　blood　has　more
  worth　than　all　your　thrall　and　caitiff　bodies？〃
  〃Nay；　not　so　fast；　dame；　not　so　fast；　I　pray　you！〃　cried　the　stout
  summoner；　whose　face　had　resumed　its　natural　color；　now　that　he
  had　a　woman　to　deal　with。　　〃There　is　a　law　of　England；　mark　you；
  and　there　are　those　who　serve　and　uphold　it；　who　are　the　true　men
  and　the　King's　own　lieges。　　Such　a　one　am　I。　　Then　again；　there
  are　those　who　take　such　as　me　and　transfer；　carry　or　convey　us
  into　a　bog　or　morass。　　Such　a　one　is　this　graceless　old　man　with
  the　ax；　whom　I　have　seen　already　this　day。　　There　are　also　those
  who　tear；　destroy　or　scatter　the　papers　of　the　law；　of　which　this
  young　man　is　the　chief。　　Therefore；　I　would　rede　you；　dame；　not　to
  rail　against　us；　but　to　understand　that　we　are　the　King's　men　on
  the　King's　own　service。〃
  〃What　then　is　your　errand　in　this　house　at　this　hour　of　the
  night？〃
  The　summoner　cleared　his　throat　pompously；　and　turning　his
  parchment　to　the　light　of　the　cressets　he　read　out　a　long　document
  in　Norman…French；　couched　in　such　a　style　and　such　a　language　that
  the　most