"
"I had hoped for more," the knight said, taking the missive and opening
it; "but I can understand that, now the king is marching against
Scotland, Percy cannot spare troops to despatch so long a distance. I
trust that he and my sister, his wife, and the earl are in good
health?"
"I left them so, sir."
The knight read Hotspur's letter.
"He speaks in terms of high commendation of you, young sir," he said,
as he laid the letter down on the table. "Such commendation is rarely
bestowed on one so young. I marvelled somewhat, when you entered, that
Sir Henry Percy should have sent so young a squire; but from what he
says, I doubt not that his choice is a good one; and indeed, it is
plain that your muscles have had rare exercise, and that you can stand
fatigue and hardship better than many older men. It is like that you
will have your share, for the whole border seems to be unsettled. You
have heard that this Glendower has boldly attacked, and driven out,
Lord Grey's retainers from the estates he had taken.
"As to the rights of that matter, I have nought to say. Lord Grey
manages the affairs with the Welsh in his own county of Denbighshire,
and along the north; and I keep their eastern border, and I meddle not
with his affairs, nor he with mine.
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