"Marry, good Nicholas, I will be frank with thee. When I left the
court to follow Lord Warwick, there were rumours of the gallantries of
Lord Hastings to the girl, which grieved me to the heart. I spoke to
her thereof bluntly and honourably, and got but high looks and
scornful words in return. Good fellow, I thank thee for that squeeze
of the hand and that doleful sigh. In my absence at Middleham, I
strove hard to forget one who cared so little for me. My dear Alwyn,
those Yorkshire lasses are parlously comely, and mighty douce and
debonaire. So I stormed cruel Sibyll out of my heart perforce of
numbers."

"And thou lovest her no more?"

"Not I, by this goblet! On coming back, it is true, I felt pleased to
clank my gold spurs in her presence, and curious to see if my new
fortunes would bring out a smile of approval; and verily, to speak
sooth, the donzell was kind and friendly, and spoke to me so cheerly
of the pleasure she felt in my advancement, that I adventured again a
few words of the old folly. But my lassie drew up like a princess,
and I am a cured man."

"By your troth?"

"By my troth!"

Alwyn's head sank on his bosom in silent thought. Sir Marmaduke
emptied his goblet; and really the young knight looked so fair and so
gallant, in his new surcoat of velvet, that it was no marvel if he
should find enough food for consolation in a court where men spent six