more thoughtful than most lads of his age. He was eager for adventure, and
burned for an opportunity to distinguish himself, while his enthusiasm for
noble exploits and great commanders interested his quiet friend, who had
the power of admiring things that he could not hope to imitate. In him,
alone of his school-fellows, did Edgar find any sympathy with his own
feelings as to the condition of the people. Henry Nevil laughed to scorn
Edgar's advocacy of their cause. Richard Clairvaux more than once
quarrelled with him seriously, and on one or two occasions they almost
betook themselves to their swords. The other three, who were of less
spirit, took no part in these arguments, saying that these things did not
concern them, being matters for the king and his ministers, and of no
interest whatever to them.

In other respects Edgar was popular with them all. His strength and his
skill in arms gave him an authority that even Richard Clairvaux
acknowledged in his cooler moments. Edgar visited at the houses of all
their fathers, his father encouraging him to do so, as he thought that
association with his equals would be a great advantage to him. As far as
manners were concerned, however, the others, with the exception of Albert
de Courcy, who did not need it, gained more than he did, for Mr. Ormskirk
had, during his long residence at foreign universities and his close
connection with professors, acquired a certain foreign courtliness of
bearing that was in strong contrast to the rough bluffness of speech and
manner that characterized the English of that period, and had some share
in rendering them so unpopular upon the Continent, where, although their
strength and fighting power made them respected, they were regarded as
island bears, and their manners were a standing jest among the frivolous
nobles of the Court of France.

At the house of Sir Ralph de Courcy Edgar was a special favourite. Lady de