collie pressed up to him, thrusting a long nose into his hand, 'far
better than those great baying hounds, or the fierce-eyed hawks that
only want to kill. If I be a baron, must it be in that sort?
Avenge! avenge! what does that mean? Is it, as in Goodwife Dolly's
ballads, going forth to kill? Why should I? I had rather let them
be! Hark! Yea, Watch,' as the dog pricked his ears and raised his
graceful head, then sprang up and uttered a deep-mouthed bark. The
sheep darted away to her companions, and Hal rose to his feet, as the
dog began to wave his tail, and Hob came forward accompanied by a
tall, grave-looking gentleman. 'Here he be, sir. Hal, come thou and
ask the blessing of thy knightly stepfather.'

Hal obeyed the summons, and coming forward put a knee to the ground,
while Sir Lancelot Threlkeld uttered the conventional blessing,
adding, 'Fair son, I am glad to see thee. Would that we might be
better acquainted, but I fear it is not safe for thee to come and be
trained for knighthood in my poor house. Thou art a well grown lad,
I rejoice to see, and strong and hearty I have no doubt.'

'Ay, sir, he is strong enow, I wis; we have done our best for him,'
responded Hob, while Hal stood shy and shamefaced; but there was
something about his bearing that made Sir Lancelot observe, 'Ay, ay,
he shows what he comes of more than his mother made me fear. Only
thou must not slouch, my fair son. Raise thy head more. Put thy
shoulders back. So! so! Nay.'

Poor Hal tried to obey, the colour mounting in his face, but he only
became more and more stiff when he tried to be upright, and his
expression was such that Sir Lancelot cried out, 'Put not on the
visage of one of thine own sheep! Ah! how shalt thou be trained to