CHAPTER II


Life was rather monotonous at the castle, as Hugo found. Occasionally
the men-at-arms sallied out, but there were no guests, for Lady De
Aldithely was determined to keep her son, if possible, and would trust
few strangers. It was a mystery to Humphrey why she had trusted Hugo.

"I may have dreams of earthquakes," he grumbled, "and what doth it
count? Naught. Here cometh a lad, most like sent by the Evil One, and
he is taken in, and housed and fed, and his hound leeched; and he goeth
often to my lady's bower to chat with her; and often into the tilt-yard
to practise with our young lord Josceline; and often lieth on the
rushes in the great hall at the evening time before the fire with the
men-at-arms; and he goeth to the gates with the warder and the grooms;
and on the walls with William Lorimer; and Robert Sadler followeth him
about to have speech with him and to hear what he will say; and he is
as good as if he were My Lord Hugo with everybody, when he is but Hugo,
a strange lad, and no lord at all."

It was as Humphrey had said. Hugo was a favorite with all in the
castle. His company was a great solace to Lady De Aldithely in
particular. She was drawn to trust him, and every day confided more and
more to him concerning her painful and perilous situation. "I am
convinced," she said one day when two weeks had passed, "that there is
mischief brewing. I fear that I shall lose my boy, and it will break
his father's heart."

Hugo looked sympathetic.