[Illustration: "Thou Art Welcome My Lad" Said Lady De Aldithely]

"I am to-day from York, and I am called Hugo Aungerville," was the
frank reply with an answering smile.

"To-day," repeated Lady De Aldithely. "That argueth that thy residence
is not there, as doth also thy name, which is strange to me."

"Thou art right," replied Hugo. "I come from beyond Durham, from the
priory of St. Wilfrid, the prior whereof is my uncle, I having no other
kin so near as he."

"And whither dost thou journey?" asked Lady De Aldithely.

"South," was the answer. "My uncle, the prior, would have had me bred a
priest, but I would be a knight. Therefore he hath at last given me his
blessing and bid me fare forth to attach myself to the train of some
nobleman."

"Why did he not secure thee a place himself?" asked Lady De Aldithely
in surprise.

"Because he hath too great caution," was the answer. "These be
troublous times. Few be true to the king, and no man knoweth who those
few be. Should he choose for me a place and use his influence to secure
it, perchance the next week the noble lord might be fleeing, and all in
his service, under the hatred of the king. And there might be those who
would say, 'Here is Hugo Aungerville, the page to my lord, and the
nephew of the prior of St. Wilfrid.' And then might the king pull down
the priory about my uncle's ears,--that is, I mean he would set my