As the pair moved on arm in arm, they were followed by a tall
handsome young man, dressed in a yeoman's habit of the plainest
kind, but which showed to advantage his fine limbs, as the
handsome countenance that looked out from a quantity of curled
tresses, surmounted by a small scarlet bonnet, became that species
of headdress. He had no other weapon than a staff in his hand, it
not being thought fit that persons of his degree (for he was an
apprentice to the old glover) should appear on the street armed
with sword or dagger, a privilege which the jackmen, or military
retainers of the nobility, esteemed exclusively their own. He attended
his master at holytide, partly in the character of a domestic, or
guardian, should there be cause for his interference; but it was
not difficult to discern, by the earnest attention which he paid
to Catharine Glover, that it was to her, rather than to her father,
that he desired to dedicate his good offices.

Generally speaking, there was no opportunity for his zeal displaying
itself; for a common feeling of respect induced passengers to give
way to the father and daughter.

But when the steel caps, barrets, and plumes of squires, archers,
and men at arms began to be seen among the throng, the wearers of
these warlike distinctions were more rude in their demeanour than
the quiet citizens. More than once, when from chance, or perhaps from
an assumption of superior importance, such an individual took the
wall of Simon in passing, the glover's youthful attendant bristled
up with a look of defiance, and the air of one who sought to
distinguish his zeal in his mistress's service by its ardour. As
frequently did Conachar, for such was the lad's name, receive a
check from his master, who gave him to understand that he did not