At length, the sun that had been hidden shone out and with its coming my
temper changed. I remembered that I who might so easily have been dead,
was sound, young, and healthy, that I had sword, bow, and armour of the
best, also twenty or more of gold pieces, for I had not counted them, in
the bag which my mother gave me with Wave-Flame. Further, I hoped that
my uncle would befriend me, and if he did not, there were plenty of
captains engaged in the wars who might be glad of a squire, one who
could shoot against any man and handle a sword as well as most.
So putting up a prayer to St. Hubert after my simple fashion, I pushed
on blithely to the crest of a long rise and there came face to face with
a gay company who, hawk on wrist and hound at heel, were, I guessed,
on their way to hunt in the Pevensey marshes. While they were still a
little way off I knew these to be no other than Sir Robert Aleys, his
daughter Blanche, and the King's favourite, young Lord Deleroy, with
their servants, and was minded to turn aside to avoid them. Then I
remembered that I had as much right to the King's Highway as they, and
my pride aiding me, determined to ride on taking no note of them, unless
first they took note of me.
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