"
So saying, he turned away. The young squire held open the entrance of
the tent, for Oswald to enter, and followed him in.
"It seems a strange thing to be thus possessed of another man's goods,"
he said.
"It is often so," the squire said, "and sometimes even his estates go
with them, also. As the earl said, Sir William Baxter had none to whom
these things could have been given; seeing that he had, so far as I
know, only one sister, to whom armour and horses could be of no use.
She is one of the Countess of Talbot's ladies."
"And what are you going to do, yourself?"
"For the present, I know not," the squire said. "I had been with Sir
William Baxter but three years. The knight I served with, before, was
thrown from his horse and killed; and Sir William, who had been just
knighted, took me into his service."
"How long have you been a squire?"
"Six years, and I hoped that, in this campaign, I might have done
something to win my spurs."
"I am but a poor knight, Master--" and he paused.
"Henry Pemberton," the squire said.
"And being but knighted today, and having no lands to keep up my
knighthood, it may be that the earl will appoint you to another of his
knights; but should he not do so, I shall be glad if, for the rest of
this campaign, you will ride with me; and trust that you, too, may have
an opportunity of gaining knighthood, before it is over.
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