behind me. And then a little after my nurse took me into
the Castle court, and there was again the man who had thrown
me the apple, sitting on a bench therein, clad in a scarlet
gown furred with brown fur; and she led me up to him, and he
stooped down and chucked me under the chin and put his hand
on my head, and looked at my nurse and said: 'Yea, he is a
big lad, and groweth apace, whereas he is but of six
winters.' 'Nay, Lord,' said my nurse, 'he is but scantly
five.' He knit his brows and said: 'Nay, I tell thee he is
six.' She shook her head, but said nought, and the great
man scowled on her and said: 'Mistress, wilt thou set thy
word against mine? Know now that this child is of six years.
Now then, how old is he?' She said faintly: 'Six years.'
Said he: 'Look to it that thy head and thy mouth forget it
not, else shall we make thy back remember it.' Then he put
his hand on my head again, and said: 'Well, I say thou art
a big lad for six years;' and therewith he gave me a silver
penny; and even as he spake, came up a grey-clad squire to
him and looked on me curiously. Then I went away with my
nurse, and wondered why she was grown so pale, whereas she
was mostly red-cheeked and jolly. But when she had brought
me into the cot again, she kissed me and clipped me, weeping
sorely the while; wherefore I wept, though I knew not why.
Sithence, I soon came to know that the man was the lord and
governor of the Castle, as ye may well wot; but to this hour
I know not what he meant by threatening my nurse."

Said Jack: "And how old art thou now, Christopher mine?"

Said the youngling, laughing: "By my lord the Castellan's