They rode in, however, very upright and stately, with an air of
taking possession of the place on their brother's behalf; and
Jean bowed with a certain haughty grace to the deputy-warden who
came out to receive them, Eleanor keeping her eye upon Jean and
imitating her in everything. For Eleanor, though sometimes the
most eager, and most apt to commit herself by hasty words and
speeches, seemed now to be daunted by the strangeness of all
around, and to commit herself to the leading of her sister,
though so little her junior.

She was very silent all through the supper spread for them in
the hall of the castle, while Jean exchanged conversation with
their host upon Iceland hawks and wolf and deer hounds, as if
she had been a young lady keeping a splendid court all her life,
instead of a poverty-stricken prisoner in castle after castle.

'Jeanie,' whispered Eleanor, as they lay down on their bed
together, 'didst mark the tall laddie that was about to seat
himself at the high table and frowned when the steward motioned
him down?'

'What's that to me? An ill-nurtured carle,' said Jean; 'I
marvel Sir Patie brooks him in his meinie!'

Eleanor was a little in awe of Jeanie in this mood, and said no
more, but Annis, who slept on a pallet at their feet, heard all,
and guessed more as to the strange young squire.

Fain would she and Eleanor have discussed the situation, but
Jean's blue eyes glanced heedfully and defiantly at them, and,