Part 4 (1/2)
Sir Daniel opened the packet, and as he read his brow darkened When he had done he sat a little,Then he looked sharply at his ward
”dick,” said he, ”Y' have seen this penny rhyme?”
The lad replied in the affirmative
”It bears your father's naht; ”and our poor shrew of a parson is, by soerly deny it,” answered dick
”He did?” cried the knight, very sharply ”Heed hiue; he babbles like a jack-sparrow Some day, when I may find the leisure, dick, I will myself more fully inform you of these matters
There was one Duckworth shrewdly blamed for it; but the tiot”
”It befell at the Moat House?” dick ventured, with a beating at his heart
”It befell between the Moat House and Holywood,” replied Sir Daniel, callance, black with suspicion, at dick's face ”And now,” added the knight, ”speed you with your meal; ye shall return to Tunstall with a line from me”
dick's face fell sorely
”Prithee, Sir Daniel,” he cried, ”send one of the villains! I beseech you let me to the battle I can strike a stroke, I promise you”
”Idown to write ”But here, dick, is no honour to be won I lie in Kettley till I have sure tidings of the war, and then ride to join me with the conqueror Cry not on cowardice; it is but wisdom, dick; for this poor real's naeth hands, that no man may be certain of the morrow Toss-pot and Shuttle-wit run in, but ”
With that, Sir Daniel, turning his back to dick, and quite at the farther end of the long table, began to write his letter, with his mouth on one side, for this business of the Black Arrow stuck sorely in his throat
Meanwhile, young Shelton was going on heartily enough with his breakfast, when he felt a touch upon his ar in his ear
”Make not a sign, I do beseech you,” said the voice, ”but of your charity tell ood boy, comfort a poor soul in peril and extreme distress, and set me so far forth upon the way to my repose”
”Take the path by the wind you to Till Ferry; there inquire again”
And without turning his head, he fell again to eating But with the tail of his eye he caught a gli fro as I 'Good boy' doth he call ed ere I had told hih the fen, I may come up with hiave dick the letter, and bade hiain, soer cahareat honour, byere the dawn, and we have beaten their van and scattered their right wing Only the main battle standeth fast
An we had your fresh men, we should tilt you theht! Will ye be the last? It stands not with your good credit”
”Nay,” cried the knight, ”I was but now upon the march Selden, sound me the tucket Sir, I am with you on the instant It is not two hours since the er What would ye have? Spurring is good er Bustle, boys!”
By this ti, and from all sides Sir Daniel's men poured into the main street and forers saddled, and in ten minutes five-score men-at-arms and archers, cleanly equipped and briskly disciplined, stood ranked and ready The chief part were in Sir Daniel's livery, reater show to their array The best arht, at the tail of the coluht before Sir Daniel looked with pride along the line
”Here be the lads to serve you in a pinch,” he said