"You have learned as much, in one morning, as many of the boys who
attend schools would learn in a month," he said. "If you go on like
this, I will warrant that, if Percy delays his return for two months,
you will know as much as many who have been two years at the work. I
have always said that it is a mistake to teach children young; their
minds do not take in what you say to them. You may beat it into them,
but they only get it by rote; and painfully, because they don't
understand how one thing leads to another, and it is their memory only,
and not their minds, that are at work."
The next day came news that the Scotch had crossed the border, and
there was great excitement in the castle; but it was soon learned that
the invasion was not on a great scale, neither the Douglases nor the
Earl of March having taken part in it.
"There is no fear of our being attacked, here," Alwyn Forster said to
Oswald. "The sheriffs of the county will call out their levies, and
will soon make head against them. At the same time, we shall make
preparations against any chance of their coming hither."
This was done. Vast quantities of arrows were prepared, stones
collected and carried up to the points on the wall most exposed to
attack; and orders sent out, by the governor of the castle in the
Percys' absence, to the people for many miles round, that on the
approach of the Scots all were to retire to refuge, the women and
children taking to the hills, while the men capable of bearing arms
were to hasten to the defence of the castle.
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