‘Silly’ was a fond term of love then, and had all the affection of a proud father in it, as the Earl of Salisbury patted the small soft fingers in his grasp.

‘Truly, my lord,’ responded Esclairmonde, ’the Lady Alice hath been my sweetest companion, friend, and sister, for these many months.’

’Nay, child, art worthy to be called friend by such a lady as this?  If so, I shall deem my little Alice grown a woman indeed, as it is time she were—­Diccon Nevil is bent on the wedding before we go to the wars again.’

Alice coloured like a damask rose, and hid her face behind her friend.

‘Hast seen him, sweet?’ asked Esclairmonde, when Salisbury had been called away.  ‘Is he here?’

‘Yes; out there—­he with the white bull on his surcoat,’ said Alice, dreading to look that way.

‘And hast spoken with him?’ asked the lady next, feeling as if the stout, commonplace, hardy-looking soldier she saw was scarce what she would have chosen for her little wild rose of an Alice, comely and brave though he were.

‘He hath kissed mine hand,’ faltered Alice, but it was quite credible that not a word had passed.  The marriage was a business contract between the houses of Wark and Raby, and a grand speculation for Sir Richard Nevil, that was all; but gentle Alice had no reluctance beyond mere maidenly shyness, and unwillingness to enter on an unknown future under a new lord.  She even whispered to her dear Clairette that she was glad Sir Richard never tormented her by talking to her, and that he was grave, and so old.

‘So old? why, little one, he can scarce be seven-and-twenty!’

‘And is not that old? oh, so old!’ said Alice.  ’Able to take care of me.  I would not have a youth like that young Lord of Glenuskie.  Oh no—­never!’

‘That is well,’ said Esclairmonde, smiling; ’but wherefore put such disdain in thy voice, Alice?  He used to be our playfellow, and he hath grown older and more manly in this year.’

‘His boyhood was better than such manhood,’ said Alice; ’he was more to my taste when he was meek, than now that he seems to say, “I would be saucy if I durst.”  And he hath not the stuff to dare any way.’

‘Fie! fie!  Alice, you are growing slanderous.’

‘Nay, now, Clairette, own verily—­you feel the like!’

’Hush, silly one, what skills it?  Youths must pass through temptation; and if his king hindered his vocation, maybe the poor lad may rue it sorely, but methinks he will come to the right at last.  It were better to say a prayer for his faults than to speak evil of them, Alice.’

Poor Malcolm!  He was at that very moment planning with an embroiderer a robe wherein to appear, covered with flashes of lightning transfixing the world, and mottoes around—­’Esclaire mais Embrase’