buried quietly and without pomp, as if she had been a child of the bowman,
a plain stone, with the name "Dame Alice Somers", marking the grave.

The boy grew and throve until at fourteen years old there was no stronger
or sturdier lad of his age within the city bounds. Giles had caused him to
be taught to read and write, accomplishments which were common among the
citizens, although they were until long afterwards rare among the warlike
barons. The greater part of his time, however, was spent in sports with
lads of his own age in Moorfields beyond the walls. The war with France was
now raging, and, as was natural, the boys in their games imitated the
doings of their elders, and mimic battles, ofttimes growing into earnest,
were fought between the lads of the different wards. Walter Fletcher, as
he was known among his play-fellows, had by his strength and courage won
for himself the proud position of captain of the boys of the ward of
Aldgate.

Geoffrey Ward had kept his word, and had already begun to give the lad
lessons in the use of arms. When not engaged otherwise Walter would, almost
every afternoon, cross London Bridge and would spend hours in the
armourer's forge. Geoffrey's business had grown, for the war had caused a
great demand for arms, and he had now six men working in the forge. As soon
as the boy could handle a light tool Geoffrey allowed him to work, and
although not able to wield the heavy sledge Walter was able to do much of
the finer work. Geoffrey encouraged him in this, as, in the first place,
the use of the tools greatly strengthened the boy's muscles, and gave him
an acquaintance with arms. Moreover, Geoffrey was still a bachelor, and he
thought that the boy, whom he as well as Giles had come to love as a son,
might, should he not take up the trade of war, prefer the occupation of an
armourer to that of a bowmaker, in which case he would take him some day as
his partner in the forge. After work was over and the men had gone away,