"Nay" said Myles, "it is not much; but I be sick in my stomach."

"Aye, aye," said Sir James; "I know that feeling well. It is thus
that one always feeleth in coming out from a sore battle when one hath
suffered wounds and lost blood. An thou wouldst keep thyself hale, keep
thyself from needless fighting. Now go thou to the dormitory, and, as I
said, come thou not forth again for a week. Stay, sirrah!" he added; "I
will send Georgebarber to thee to look to thy sores. Green wounds are
best drawn and salved ere they grow cold."

I wonder what Myles would have thought had he known that so soon as
he had left the office, Sir James had gone straight to the Earl and
recounted the whole matter to him, with a deal of dry gusto, and that
the Earl listened laughing.

"Aye," said he, when Sir James had done, "the boy hath mettle, sure.
Nevertheless, we must transplant this fellow Blunt to the office of
gentleman-in-waiting. He must be old enough now, and gin he stayeth in
his present place, either he will do the boy a harm, or the boy will do
him a harm."

So Blunt never came again to trouble the squires' quarters; and
thereafter the youngsters rendered no more service to the elders.

Myles's first great fight in life was won.



CHAPTER 17