Now, again, thou didst take the Lady of Meadham home to thy house yesterday, and wert with her alone a great while.

Now according to thy dealings with her thou dost merit either the most evil of deaths, or else it may be a reward: hah! what sayest thou ?" Christopher leapt up, and said in a loud voice: "Lord King, whatsoever I may be, I am not each man's dastard; when I saw that pearl of all women, I loved her indeed, as who should not, but it was even as I had loved the Mother of God had she come down from the altar picture at the Church of Middleham of the Wood.

And whoso saith otherwise, I give him the lie back in his teeth, and will meet him face to face if I may; and then, meseems, it will go hard with him." Spake the Earl, laughing: "I will be no champion against thee, for I hold my skin and my bones of too much price thereto.

And, moreover, though meseemeth the Blessed Virgin would have a hot lover in thee were she to come down to earth anigh thy dwelling, yet trow I thy tale, that thou hast dealt with my Lady in honour.

Therefore, lad, what sayest thou, wilt thou be a man of mine, and bear arms for me, and do my will ?" Spake Christopher: "Lord, this is better than hanging." "Why, so it is, lad," said the Earl, laughing again, "and some would say better by a good deal.