manfully I would rather follow out the life I thought must be mine, and
enter the Church. I should like, most of all, to be able to be always with
you, Edgar, and to fight by your side. We have long been like brothers. I
know that you will win rank and fame, and though I have no ambition for
myself I should glory in your success, and be well content with your
friendship as my share in it."

"That, you may be sure, you will always have, Albert, and as to your plan,
I see not why you should not carry it out. In war time you and I could
ride together, and in peace you could live at the castle, which is so
close to St. Alwyth that we can ride over and visit each other daily when
I am there, which mayhap would not be very often, for when England and
France are at peace, and there is no trouble between us and Scotland, I
may join some noble leader of free-lances in the service of an Italian or
German prince. Such, when there is peace at home, is the best avenue for
fame and distinction."

"I cannot say yet what I may feel as I gain strength and skill in arms,
but it may be that even there I may be your companion should strength and
health permit it."

"That indeed would be good--so good that I can scarce yet believe that it
can be so, although there is no reason to the contrary. It has for years
been a grief to me to know that our paths lay so far apart, and that the
time must soon be coming when we should be separated, and for ever. It was
with some faint hope that exercise might bring more colour to your cheeks,
and that with strength and skill in arms might come thoughts of another
life than that of the cloister, that I first urged you to let me teach you
the use of arms. That hope has grown gradually since I found how much you
benefited by the exercise, and acquired a strength of arm that I had