young man and to shield him from notice as best he might. With
Geordie's motive he had no sympathy, having had too many
childish squabbles with his cousin for her to be in his eyes a
sublime Princess Joanna, but only a masterful Jeanie.

Sir Patrick, absorbed in orders to his seneschal, did not
observe the addition to his party; and as David acted as his
squire, and had been seen talking to the young man, no further
demur was made until the time when the home party turned to ride
back to Glenuskie, and Sir Patrick made a roll-call of his
followers, picked men who could fairly be trusted not to embroil
the company by excesses or imprudences in England or France.

Besides himself, his wife, sons and daughters, and the two
princesses, the party consisted of Christian, female attendant
for the ladies, the wife of Andrew of the Cleugh, an elderly,
well-seasoned man-at-arms, to whom the banner was entrusted;
Dandie their son, a stalwart youth of two or three-and-twenty,
who, under his father, was in charge of the horses; and six
lances besides. Sir Patrick following the French fashion, which
gave to each lance two grooms, armed likewise, and a horse-boy.
For each of the family there was likewise a spare palfrey, with
a servant in charge, and one beast of burthen, but these last
were to be freshly hired with their attendants at each stage.

Geordie, used to more tumultuous and irregular gatherings, where
any man with a good horse and serviceable weapons was welcome to
join the raid, had not reckoned on such a review of the party as
was made by the old warrior accustomed to more regular warfare,
and who made each of his eight lances--namely, the two Andrew