He was still old, but he was no longer senile.
"Knowest thou not," he continued, "that the king's men look for thee
either as the young lord or as the false priest's novice? Dally no
longer, but put on this woman's garb."
"Yea, lad," counselled Humphrey, "put it on. It will suit thee better
than the king's dungeon."
Thus urged, Hugo obeyed, and presently was stepping about the hut most
discontentedly in the guise of a woman. "Stride not so manfully or we
be undone," cried old Bartlemy. "Canst thou not mince thy gait? There!
That hath a more seemly look."
The pack he had brought in was very large, and from it he now took the
garments and armor of an esquire, which he handed to Humphrey. "When
thou shalt don these," he said, "it will come to pass that thou hast
been sent to bring thy young lady safe to London town."
With alacrity Humphrey tossed aside his priest's robe and clad himself
in what old Bartlemy offered him. "Now may I forget my _pax vobiscum_
and no harm be done," he exclaimed joyfully.
Hugo could but smile at the pride and pleasure of Humphrey's manner as
he arrayed himself.
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