'I never asked Geordie to put his finger in,' returned Jean
saucily. 'I could have brought off Skywing for myself without
such a clamjamfrie after me.'

But Eleanor and Annis agreed that it was as good as a ballad,
and ought to be sung in one, only Jean would have to figure as
the 'dour lassie.' For she continued to aver, by turns, that
Geordie need never have meddled, and that of course it was his
bounden duty to stand by his King's sister, and that she owed
him no thanks. If he were hanged for it he had run his craig
into the noose.

So she tossed her proud head, and toyed with her falcon, as all
rode on their way to Fotheringay, with Geordie in the midst of
the rangers.

It was so many years since there had been serious war in
England, that the castles of the interior were far less of
fortresses than of magnificent abodes for the baronage, who had
just then attained their fullest splendour. It may be observed
that the Wars of the Roses were for the most part fought out in
battles, not by sieges. Thus Fotheringay had spread out into a
huge pile, which crowned the hill above, with a strong inner
court and lofty donjon tower indeed, and with mighty walls, but
with buildings for retainers all round, reaching down to the
beautiful newly-built octagon-towered church; and with a great
park stretching for miles, for all kinds of sport.

'All this enclosed! Yet they make sic a wark about their