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little and little。 For three or four days； maybe； he went his new way of life
big with the great change that had come upon him； and then； now in this
and now in that； he drifted back very much into his old ways of boyish
doings。 As was said； one's young days do not end all at once； even when
they be so suddenly and sharply shaken； and Myles was not different from
others。 He had been stirred to the core by that first wonderful sight of the
great and glorious life of manhood opening before him； but he had yet
many a sport to enjoy； many a game to play； many a boisterous romp to
riot in the dormitory； many an expedition to make to copse and spinney
and river on days when he was off duty； and when permission had been
granted。
Nevertheless； there was a great and vital change in his life； a change
which he hardly felt or realized。 Even in resuming his old life there was no
longer the same vitality； the same zest； the same enjoyment in all these
things。 It seemed as though they were no longer a part of himself。 The
savor had gone from them； and by…and…by it was pleasanter to sit looking
on at the sports and the games of the younger lads than to take active part
in them。
These three years of his life that had thus passed had been very full；
full mostly of work； grinding and monotonous； of training dull； dry；
laborious。 For Sir James Lee was a taskmaster as hard as iron and
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seemingly as cold as a stone。 For two； perhaps for three； weeks Myles
entered into his new exercises with all the enthusiasm that novelty brings；
but these exercises hardly varied a tittle from day to day； and soon became
a duty； and finally a hard and grinding task。 He used； in the earlier days of
his castle life； to hate the dull monotony of the tri…weekly hacking at the
pels with a heavy broadsword as he hated nothing else； but now； though he
still had that exercise to perform； it was almost a relief from the heavy
dulness of riding； riding； riding in the tilt…yard with shield and lance
couchrecoveren passant。
But though he had nowadays but little time for boyish plays and
escapades； his life was not altogether without relaxation。 Now and then he
was permitted to drive in mock battle with other of the younger knights
and bachelors in the paddock near the outer walls。 It was a still more
welcome change in the routine of his life when； occasionally； he would
break a light lance in the tilting…court with Sir Everard Willoughby； Lord
George； perhaps； and maybe one or two others of the Hall folk； looking
on。
Then one gilded day； when Lord Dudleigh was visiting at Devlen；
Myles ran a course with a heavier lance in the presence of the Earl； who
came down to the tilt…yard with his guest to see the young novitiate ride
against Sir Everard。 He did his best； and did it well。 Lord Dudleigh praised
his poise and carriage； and Lord George； who was present； gave him an
approving smile and nod。 But the Earl of Mackworth only sat stroking his
beard impassively； as was his custom。 Myles would have given much to
know his thoughts。
In all these years Sir James Lee almost never gave any expression
either of approbation or disapprovalexcepting when Myles exhibited
some carelessness or oversight。 Then his words were sharp and harsh
enough。 More than once Myles's heart failed him； and bitter
discouragement took possession of him； then nothing but his bull…dog
tenacity and stubbornness brought him out from the despondency of the
dark hours。
〃Sir；〃 he burst out one day； when his heart was heavy with some
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failure； 〃tell me； I beseech thee； do I get me any of skill at all？ Is it in me
ever to make a worthy knight； fit to hold lance and sword with other men；
or am I only soothly a dull heavy block； worth naught of any good？〃
〃Thou art a fool； sirrah！〃 answered Sir James； in his grimmest tones。
〃Thinkest thou to learn all of knightly prowess in a year and a half？ Wait
until thou art ripe； and then I will tell thee if thou art fit to couch a lance or
ride a course with a right knight。〃 〃Thou art an old bear！〃 muttered
Myles to himself； as the old one…eyed knight turned on his heel and strode
away。 〃Beshrew me！ an I show thee not that I am as worthy to couch a
lance as thou one of these fine days！〃
However； during the last of the three years the grinding routine of his
training had not been quite so severe as at first。 His exercises took him
more often out into the fields； and it was during this time of his knightly
education that he sometimes rode against some of the castle knights in
friendly battle with sword or lance or wooden mace。 In these encounters
he always held his own； and held it more than well； though； in his boyish
simplicity； he was altogether unconscious of his own skill； address； and
strength。 Perhaps it was his very honest modesty that made him so popular
and so heartily liked by all。
He had by this time risen to the place of head squire or chief bachelor；
holding the same position that Walter Blunt had occupied when he himself
had first come； a raw country boy； to Devlen。 The lesser squires and pages
fairly worshipped him as a hero； albeit imposing upon his good…nature。 All
took a pride in his practice in knightly exercises； and fabulous tales were
current among the young fry concerning his strength and skill。
Yet； although Myles was now at the head of his class； he did not； as
other chief bachelors had done； take a leading position among the squires
in the Earl's household service。 Lord Mackworth； for his own good
reasons； relegated him to the position of Lord George's especial attendant。
Nevertheless； the Earl always distinguished him from the other esquires；
giving him a cool nod whenever they met； and Myles； upon his partnow
that he had learned better to appreciate how much his Lord had done for
himwould have shed the last drop of blood in his veins for the head of
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the house of Beaumont。
As for the two young ladies； he often saw them； and sometimes； even
in the presence of the Earl； exchanged a few words with them； and Lord
Mackworth neither forbade it nor seemed to notice it。
Towards the Lady Anne he felt the steady friendly regard of a lad for a
girl older than himself； towards the Lady Alice； now budding into ripe
young womanhood； there lay deep in his heart the resolve to be some day
her true knight in earnest as he had been her knight in pretence in that time
of boyhood when he had so perilously climbed into the privy garden。
In body and form he was now a man； and in thought and heart was
quickly ripening to manhood； for； as was said before； men matured
quickly in those days。 He was a right comely youth； for the promise of his
boyish body had been fulfilled in a tall； powerful； well…knit frame。 His
face was still round and boyish； but on cheek and chin and lip was the curl
of adolescent beard soft； yellow； and silky。 His eyes were as blue as steel；
and quick and sharp in glance as those of a hawk； and as he walked； his
arms swung from his broad； square shoulders； and his body swayed with
pent…up strength ready for action at any moment。
If little Lady Alice； hearing much talk of his doings and of his promise
in these latter times； thought of him now and then it is a matter not
altogether to be wondered at。
Such were the changes that three years had wrought。 And from now
the story of his manhood really begins。
Perhaps in all the history of Devlen Castle； even at this； the high tide
of pride and greatness of the house of Beaumont； the most notable time
was in the early autumn of the year 1411； when for five days King Henry
IV was entertained by the Earl of Mackworth。 The King was at that time
making a progress through certain of the midland cou