And there they found William Lorimer and his men-at-arms, but, to Lady
De Aldithely's distress, no Hugo nor tidings of him.
"What lad is this thou speakest of?" asked Lord De Aldithely.
And then Lady De Aldithely told him all. "And his name," she ended, "is
Hugo Aungerville. Knowest thou aught of him?"
"I should," replied Lord De Aldithely. "Though I have never seen him, I
do know he must be the son of my cousin, Eleanor De Aldithely; for he
hath her brave spirit, and her husband was Hugo Aungerville. And the
lad shall be knighted or ever he arrive. For if he elude the king
successfully and on such an errand, risking his own life to save that
of another, he hath won his spurs."
Thus it was that when Hugo came welcome was waiting for him in the warm
hearts of his kinsfolk. And when he had received his spurs, and Lord De
Aldithely asked him what reward he could give him for saving Josceline
from the king's hands, the boy smiled archly upon the faithful Humphrey
who stood by. "I do ask thee," he said, "that Humphrey may be my
esquire."
And from that day Humphrey, a serving-man no longer, followed his dear
lad, not only in France, but later in England, when Magna Charta had
been signed, and it was safe for them all to return.
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