The Lances of Lynwood | Page 6

giving directions, answering inquiries, or granting permission
to the men to return home with their relations. Ralph Penrose was near,
his countenance, as Eustace could plainly perceive, expressing little
satisfaction at finding another authority in the court of Lynwood Keep;
the references to himself short, brief, and rapid, and only made when

ignorance of the locality compelled the stranger to apply for
information. The French accent and occasional French phrases with
which the Squire spoke, made him contract his brow more and more,
and at last, just as Eustace came up, he walked slowly away, grumbling
to himself, "Well, have it e'en your own way, I am too old for your gay
French fashions. It was not so in Humfrey Harwood's time, when-- But
the world has gone after the French now! Sir Reginald has brought
home as many Gascon thieves as kindly Englishmen!"
Eustace listened for a moment to his mutterings, but without answering
them, and coming within a few steps of the stranger, stood waiting to
offer him any courtesy in his power, though at the same time he felt
abashed by the consciousness of his inferiority in accomplishments and
experience.
It was the Squire who was the first to speak. "So this is Sir Reginald's
old Keep! A fine old fortalice--would stand at least a fortnight's siege.
Ha! Is not yonder a weak point? I would undertake to scale that tower,
so the battering-rams made a diversion on the other side."
"I trust it will never be tried," said Eustace.
"It would be as fair a feat of arms as ever you beheld! But I crave your
pardon," added he, displaying his white teeth with a merry laugh; "the
state of my own land has taught me to look on every castle with eyes
for attack and defence, and your brother tells me I am not behind my
countrymen in what you English call gasconades."
"You have seen many sieges and passages of arms?" asked Eustace,
looking up in his face with an expression at once puzzled and
respectful.
"Since our castle of Albricorte was sacked and burnt by the Count de
Bearn, I have seen little else--three stricken fields--two towns
stormed--castles more than I can remember."
"Alas!" said Eustace, "I have seen nothing but the muster of arms at
Taunton!"
D'Aubricour laughed. "Look not downcast on it," said he; "you have
time before you and one year at Bordeaux is worth four elsewhere. But
I forget, you are the young clerk; and yet that scarcely accords with that
bright eye of yours, and the weapon at your side."
"They spoke once of making me a clerk," said Eustace; "but I hope to
show my brother that I am fit for his own way of life. Sir Squire, do but

tell me, do you think I look unfit to sustain the honour of my name?"
"Mere strength is little," said the Squire, "else were that comely giant
John Ingram, the best warrior in the army. Nor does height reckon for
much; Du Guesclin himself is of the shortest. Nor do you look like the
boy over whose weakly timid nature I have heard Sir Reginald lament,"
he proceeded, surveying him with a critical eye.
Eustace had, in fact, hardly reached the middle height, and was very
slender; his limbs were, however, well proportioned, his step firm, and
every movement full of activity and grace. His face, shaded with bright
chestnut hair, was of a delicate complexion, the features finely moulded,
and the usual cast of expression slightly thoughtful; but there was
frequently, and especially at this moment, a bright kindling light in the
dark blue eyes, which changed the whole countenance from the grave
and refined look of the young scholar to the bold ardent glance of the
warrior.
"A cavalier, every inch of you!" cried d'Aubricour, striking Eustace on
the shoulder as he concluded his inspection. "I'll have the training of
you, my _gentil damoiseau_, and see if I do not make you as preux a
chevalier as the most burly giant of them all. Here, know you this
trick?"
He caught up one of the lances which the men had laid aside; Eustace
followed his example, and acquitted himself to his satisfaction in one or
two chivalrous manoeuvres, till a summons to supper put an end to the
sport.

CHAPTER 2

The house of Lynwood had long been famed for loyalty, which had
often cost them dear, since their neighbours, the Lords of Clarenham,
never failed to take advantage of the ascendency of the popular party,
and make encroachments on their privileges and possessions.
Thus when Sir Hugo Lynwood, the old Crusader, was made prisoner by
Simon de Montfort's party at Lewes, he was treated with great severity,
in order to obtain from him a