"Nay, Uncle. I came of age but a few days since, and it will be time to
think of taking me a wife four or five years hence. So, until these
troubles have wholly ceased, it were better, methinks, for a knight to
remain unwed than to take a wife, with the risk of leaving her a young
widow."
"In that case, Oswald, methinks there would be little marrying in
Northumberland; for, saving short truces, and these but ill observed,
there is ever trouble on the border."
"I speak not of that," Oswald replied. "Doubtless we shall always be
subject to border raids, on both sides, and even to serious wars
between the two countries; but I speak not of that, but of troubles in
England. 'Tis natural to fight when Englishmen and Scotchmen meet,
arrayed in battle; but when Englishmen meet Englishmen, 'tis terrible
indeed; and though the slaughter at Shrewsbury was great beyond
measure, who yet can say that the fire is extinguished? As long as one
may be called to arms again, by the earl, it is, in good sooth, better
to remain single than to have to ride to the wars, leaving the young
wife behind."
"Spoken very wisely and well, Oswald," Adam Armstrong laughed. "'Tis
well to argue as to policy; but such arguments go for nought, as soon
as a man's heart is fixed on any particular woman.
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