pages at the castle. Half a dozen of the youthful aspirants to
chivalry, amongst whom were Drogo, Hubert, and Martin, gathered
under an oak occupying an elevated site in the park: they had
evidently just left the forest, for hares and rabbits were lying on
the ground, the result of a little foray into the cover.

"What a view we have here; one can see the towers of Warwick, over
the woods."

"And there is the line of hills over Keinton and Radway {9}."

"And there Black Down Hill."

"And there the spires of Coventry."

"Yes," said Drogo, "but it is not like the view from my uncle's
castle in the Andredsweald, over a far wilder forest than this of
Arden, with the great billowy downs for a southern bulwark. There
be wolves, yea, boars, and for lesser beasts of prey wildcats,
badgers, and polecats; while the deer are as plentiful as sheep."

"And where is that castle?" said Hubert.

"At Walderne; my uncle is Nicholas de Harengod, and some day the
castle will be mine."

Martin looked up with strange interest.

"What! Walderne Castle yours!"