let her bide in the cot all day, giving tongue as none but womenfolk
can do; and behold she is the child of the Lord St. John of Bletso.'

'Nay, what should bring her north?'

'She wonnes at Greystone with the wild Prioress Selby, who lost her
out hawking. Her father is a black Yorkist. I saw him up to his
stirrups in blood at St. Albans!'

'But sure my boy did not make himself known to her?' exclaimed the
lady.

'I trow not. He has been well warned, and is a lad of his word; but
the two bairns, left to themselves, could scarce help finding out
that each was of gentle blood and breeding, and how much more my
goodwife cannot tell. I took the maid back so soon as it was safe
yester morn, and sent back my young lord, much against his will,
half-way to Greystone. And well was it I did so, for he was scarce
over the ridge when a plump of spears came in sight on the search for
him, and led by the young squire of Selby.'

'Ah! and if the damsel does but talk, even if she knows nought, the
foe will draw their conclusions!' said the lady, clasping her hands.
'Oh, would that I had sent him abroad with his little brothers!'

'Nay, then might he have fallen into the hands of Bletso himself, and
they say Burgundy is all for the Yorkists now,' said Hob. 'This is
what I have done, gracious lady. I bade my good woman carry off all
she could from the homestead and burn the rest; and for him we wot
on, I sent him and his flock off westward, appointing each of them