"Thy prating may mar all."
"Was it for this," demanded Humphrey, "that I did dream of acorns and
of eating one of them, which foretelleth, as all men know, a gradual
rise to riches and honor, that I should be bid to cease prating by a
stranger, and he a mere lad? But I can cease, if it please thee. I had
not come with thee but for her ladyship's commands." And in much
dudgeon he composed himself to sleep.
As for Hugo, he lay on the grass, his eyes on the glimmering fire, and
his ears alert for any sound. But all was still; and he soon fell to
picturing the scene at the castle,--Lady De Aldithely and Josceline,
mounted for their journey, going out at the postern gate at the head of
the train of sumpter mules and attended by the band of serving-men and
men-at-arms. And with all his heart he hoped for their safety. He did
not wonder at their taking their treasures with them. It was the custom
of the time to do so, and was quite as sensible as leaving them behind
to be stolen.
The great deerhound blinked his eyes lazily in the firelight and drew,
after a while, the lad's thoughts away from the castle.
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