I fell on my knees at his feet, and kissed his hands, and I believe that
I wept.

"Sir," I said, "you have been to me as a father, and more than it has
been my fortune to find my own father. Never would I leave you with my
will, and for the gentle demoiselle, your daughter--" But here I
stinted, since in sooth I knew not well what words to say.

"Ay, we shall both miss you betimes; but courage, man! After all, this
new life beseems you best, and, mark me, a lass thinks none the worse of
a lad because he wears not the prentice's hodden grey, but a Scots
archer's green, white, and red, and Charles for badge on breast and
sleeve, and a sword by his side. And as for the bonny Book of
Hours--'Master,' I said with shame, 'was that my ransom?'

"Kennedy would have come near my price, and strove to make me take the
gold. But what is bred in the bone will out; I am a gentleman born, not
a huckster, and the book I gave him freely. May it profit the good
knight in his devotions! But now, come, they are weary waiting for us;
the hour waxes late, and Elliot, I trow, is long abed. You must begone
to the castle."

In the stairs, and about the door, some ten of Sir Hugh's men were
waiting, all countrymen of my own, and the noise they made and their
speech were pleasant to me. They gave me welcome with shouts and
laughter, and clasped my hands: "for him that called us wine-sacks, you
have given him water to his wine, and the frog for his butler," they
said, making a jest of life and death. But my own heart for the nonce
was heavy enough again, I longing to take farewell of Elliot, which might