"
It was a most beautiful little valley that the boy saw when he stood on
the edge of a hill on its northern side and gazed down into it, while
Humphrey stood by pointing out its features with the air of a
proprietor. Green and lovely it stretched away to the southeast some
two miles, as Humphrey told him. Through it flowed the Went, bending
and turning, its banks lined with osiers and willows. Wooded hills were
the northern, and sloping coppices the southern boundary of the vale.
The two had not ventured out into the open. They were still in the
shelter of the trees. "The Normans rule, and honest men must skulk and
hide," observed Humphrey, with some bitterness.
"Lord De Aldithely is a Norman," remarked Hugo. "So also am I."
"Ay," rejoined Humphrey, "but all Normans are not alike bad. Thou art
not the king, moreover, nor is my lord, who is an honest man and
standeth bravely by the people, and is opposed to murder and robbery.
Therefore is he fled, and therefore is our young lord Josceline in
danger, and therefore are we skulking and hiding and leading the king's
men this chase.
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