The Armourer's Apprentice — page 7: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

7 a Sf s : “_ J ~* ~ - ? 7 ee 1 mo re, Me Bre | PROLOGUE. a up non thee that thou art only a simple lad— Saw eupiosapenant in the old tian’s face, woe friendless one; nay, thou wouldst have | “T mean, sweet maiden,” he cried, “ the 4 died of starvation if 1t had not been for my | right of doing homage on thy lips.” Soinehove and myself, and that therefore e seized her round the waist, but before n0ves thee to look carefully to thy | he could kiss her she cried, as she thrust him that thou mayst return usin some | from her—- | e money we have expended on thee| “Help, help, Stephen—help | Wilt thou ; ews earindaae thou never canst return or | see me thus insulted ?’ #3 will return. Take the wreath away and| No word passed Stephen Sternhold’s lips; i make much of it.” but hé leaped forward, and, seizing the collar The tears rose to Stephen’ s eyes as he | of George Wynyard, shook him go violently heard these most unkind remarks; but his | that he had to release the girl. ride came to his assistance, and he choked Then, with a strength that was remark- i again, and turned towards LenAs able in one so-short, and with an ease that * Margery and Alice, * marked the skilful wrestler, he flung the , __ There, at least, he was met with beaming fellow to the ground. ; _ smiles which came from leving hearts. For soms minutes the crowd round re | Pope in good trath, Stephen, thou didst shoot | mained silent, awestruck at the overthrow most marvellously,” cried the dame, “and | of their gilded favourite, for such they heid | ie AL dost thou deserve the prize. TV ‘faith ! George to be. ‘Then some broke out in : itis a pretty one too. What wilt thou | murmurs, whilst others applauded the h 40 with 5S da eo action of our hero, so that it seemed most _“Needst thou ask, good dame! ” said the likel that a free fight would take place. < ie shing boy, as he knelt before Alice. “If | ow mow, you base churl!” cried De ustres 35 Alice will but deign to accept this bain drawing his sword and springing tri nibute of a grateful heart, and become the | forward so that he stood across the bod ody of ‘ ) ‘the sports, she will indeed confer | George Wynyard as if to protect it. ay a Donan, and an extra value upon |! you no better manners than to attack one Ee » ry success.” who confers honours to you by granting you | fins “Nay, good Stephen, ‘ ais Aliee, as she} his countenance? Bac ! or IT warrantme — x the wreath, and placed it gracefully | I will slit thy preasy doublet for thee.” ss por her head ; “it is thou dost honourme | A number of youths who were in atten- — simple maiden—by such a present, and | dance upon tho young Lord De Courcy at a lady ‘will I aceepi the wreath, and wear it | once drew their swords, and stood ready to for Ly sake.” €- second their chief. re ‘Cskgh ‘dst hear that—didst hear that?” Seeing- himself thus encouraged, ‘De : e whis pered De Courey to George Wynyard, | Courcy grew bolder, and seizing his sword, — ae who was fuming with rage. es ge accepts cried to Stephen— 3 : 2 “ And thou, turbulent and 211- conditioned a art Fad: what of that?” knave, get thee back to thy hammer and ‘ * “yy at of that ? Why, she accepts him bellows, and dare not look at so much as Fes ie oe time se how the old|as even the shoestring of thy master’ BS _ arm fumes with rage. To her, lad! | daughter.” | ¢ Jlaim the old Saxon custom of doing hom-| As he finished speaking he struck Stephen i. ag ze tO. mA Sash thes upon her lips. | over the breast withthe flatof hissword, #01 ier, I aay yo will Seas and claim the| “Scarcely had the blade touched Stephen’ s.. game.” breast when he fell upon the young noble, ae, nus ‘emboldened, amid burning with rage | wrenched the weapon from his grasp, and — eis at his rival's success, George Wynyard | flung him tothe ground, where he lay across — 4 teppe a¢ forward, and, bowing low to Alice, | his fallen friend. - said ra “Norman hound!” eried Stephen, as ‘he y ae “ Pair maiden. T would have been sorry | stood with clenched fists over bis prostrate is ha ee rey! hing If rested upon any other brow | foe, whilst with the sword he had wrenched If fortune had favoured me,| from De Courcy he kept back the crowd, d rather ‘say if it had not been }“learn that if we have lost our lands we my clutch by means scarcely | have not lost our courage. Dare to place 3 f hould myself have had the honour | one finger on that maiden again and I will placing it on your brow. | show you no mercy.” Te ” “aah ived of that great honour, and “ How now !°’ cried Robert Sanith, spring= now claim the old Saxon homage to the | ing up and seizing a bar of iron, which he | ae 1 of the revels.” always carried with ‘um I] | es OM fhat mean you?” demanded Alice, | and which he wielded as"tasily as many — back, and looking-afraid. men would have done an oaken cudgel— org took one Ap at Iron Arm and | ‘how now, thiou rebellious knéve? Darest : ie ty i — COnnicooo xSs,conn ead of a stafi, —