treachery against us. And so we flee."

And now Hugo drew himself proudly up. He felt that he was trusted and
that he was doing a knight's part in rescuing a lady in distress,
though he had not, as yet, taken his knightly vow, and was not even an
esquire.

Lady De Aldithely saw it and smiled. "Thou must put off that high look,
dear lad," she said. "It might beget wonderment in the brain of Robert
Sadler, and so lead him to seek its cause. Look and act as thou hast in
the past. Call to mind thine uncle, the prior, and guard not only thy
tongue, but the glance of thine eye, and the carriage of thy body."

Hugo blushed. "I fear I am like to mar all without thy counsel," he
said humbly.

"Thou art but a lad," replied Lady De Aldithely, kindly, "and my
counsel thou shalt freely have. And now I must tell thee that thou art
to take our good Humphrey with thee on thy journey."

Hugo started and looked disappointed. But all he said was, "Dost not
think him very like an old crone, with his dreams and his omens and his
charms?"

"I may not criticise Humphrey thus," said Lady De Aldithely, gravely,
"because I know his great faithfulness to me and mine. And thou knowest
there is much superstition abroad in the land--too much to make it just
to single out Humphrey for dislike because he is tainted with it. I
send him with thee because I have the highest regard for thy safety.
Thou wilt consent to take him to attend thee?"