Walter learned to bear himself well on horseback and to tilt in the ring.

He was already a skilful swordsman, but he spared no pains to improve himself with his weapons.

The court was a gay one, and Walter, as a favoured esquire of one of the foremost knights there, was admitted to all that took place.

His courtly education, of course, included dancing, and when he went down, as he often did, for a long chat with his old friends, Geoffrey often said, laughing, that he was growing such a fine gentleman that he hardly liked to sit in his presence; but although changed in manner, Walter continued to be, as before, a frank, manly young fellow, and free from the affectations which were so general among the young men of the court..