"A shrine!" cried the knight.
"Then let us put up an orison."
Pulling off his cap, and clasping his hands, he chanted in a shrill voice: "Benedictus dominus Deus meus, qui docet manus meas ad proelium, et digitos meos ad bellum."
A strange figure he seemed to his three squires, perched on his huge horse, with his eyes upturned and the wintry sun shimmering upon his bald head.
"It is a noble prayer," he remarked, putting on his hat again, "and it was taught to me by the noble Chandos himself.
But how fares it with you, father?
Methinks that I should have ruth upon you, seeing that I am myself like one who looks through a horn window while his neighbors have the clear crystal.
Yet, by St. Paul! there is a long stride between the man who hath a horn casement and him who is walled in on every hand."
"Alas! fair sir," cried the blind old man,
"I have not seen the blessed blue of heaven this two-score years, since a levin flash burned the sight out of my head."
"You have been blind to much that is goodly and fair," quoth Sir Nigel, "but you have also been spared much that is sorry and foul.
This very hour our eyes have been shocked with that which would have left you unmoved.
But, by St. Paul! we must on, or our Company will think that they have lost their captain somewhat early in the venture.
Throw the man my purse, Edricson, and let us go."
Alleyne, lingering behind, bethought him of the Lady Loring's counsel, and reduced the noble gift which the knight had so freely bestowed to a single penny, which the beggar with many mumbled blessings thrust away into his wallet.
Then, spurring his steed, the young squire rode at the top of his speed after his companions, and overtook them just at the spot where the trees fringe off into the moor and the straggling hamlet of Hordle lies scattered on either side of the winding and deeply- rutted track.
The Company was already well-nigh through the village; but, as the knight and his squires closed up upon them, they heard the clamor of a strident voice, followed by a roar of deep-chested laughter from the ranks of the archers.
Another minute brought them up with the rear-guard, where every man marched with his beard on his shoulder and a face which was a- grin with merriment.
By the side of the column walked a huge red-headed bowman, with his hands thrown out in argument and expostulation, while close at his heels followed a little wrinkled woman who poured forth a shrill volley of abuse, varied by an occasional thwack from her stick, given with all the force of her body, though she might have been beating one of the forest trees for all the effect that she seemed likely to produce.
"I trust, Aylward," said Sir Nigel gravely, as he rode up, "that this doth not mean that any violence hath been offered to women.
If such a thing happened, I tell you that the man shall hang, though he were the best archer that ever wore brassart."
"Nay, my fair lord," Aylward answered with a grin, "it is violence which is offered to a man.
He comes from Hordle, and this is his mother who hath come forth to welcome him."
"You rammucky lurden," she was howling, with a blow between each catch of her breath, "you shammocking, yaping, over-long good- for-nought.
I will teach thee!
I will baste thee!
Aye, by my faith!"
"Whist, mother," said John, looking back at her from the tail of his eye, "I go to France as an archer to give blows and to take them."
"To France, quotha?" cried the old dame.
"Bide here with me, and I shall warrant you more blows than you are like to get in France.
If blows be what you seek, you need not go further than Hordle."
"By my hilt! the good dame speaks truth," said Aylward.
"It seems to be the very home of them."
"What have you to say, you clean-shaved galley-beggar?" cried the fiery dame, turning upon the archer.
"Can I not speak with my own son but you must let your tongue clack?
A soldier, quotha, and never a hair on his face.
I have seen a better soldier with pap for food and swaddling clothes for harness."
"Stand to it, Aylward," cried the archers, amid a fresh burst of laughter.
"Do not thwart her, comrade," said big John.
"She hath a proper spirit for her years and cannot abide to be thwarted.
It is kindly and homely to me to hear her voice and to feel that she is behind me.
But I must leave you now, mother, for the way is over-rough for your feet; but I will bring you back a silken gown, if there be one in France or Spain, and I will bring Jinny a silver penny; so good-bye to you, and God have you in His keeping!"
Whipping up the little woman, he lifted her lightly to his lips, and then, taking his place in the ranks again, marched on with the laughing Company.
"That was ever his way," she cried, appealing to Sir Nigel, who reined up his horse and listened with the greatest courtesy.
"He would jog on his own road for all that I could do to change him.
First he must be a monk forsooth, and all because a wench was wise enough to turn her back on him.
Then he joins a rascally crew and must needs trapse off to the wars, and me with no one to bait the fire if I be out, or tend the cow if I be home.
Yet I have been a good mother to him.
Three hazel switches a day have I broke across his shoulders, and he takes no more notice than you have seen him to-day."
"Doubt not that he will come back to you both safe and prosperous, my fair dame," quoth Sir Nigel.