Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-16
THE WHITE COMPANY
BY A. CONAN DOYLE.

amiss for q monk-bred man. trust that
you are lowly and serviceabler'
~, az nave served all my life. my lord
Canst carve. too?'
II have carved two days a week for the
brethren"
"A model. truly! Wilt make a squire of
squlres. But tell me. 1 pray, canst curl
mo. my lord: but I could learn
1T is of import" said he, 'for love to
keep my hair well ordered, seeing that the
weight of my helmet for thirty years hath
| in some degree frayed II upon the top He
pulled on his velvet cap of maintenance as
| he spoke and displayed pate which was as
bald as an egg and shone bravely in the fire.
light You see,' said he. whisking round
and showing one little strip where line of
scattered hairs. like the last survivors In
| some fatal field. still barely held their own
against the fate which had fallen upon their
comrades: these locks need some little Oil
Ing and curling, for i doubt not that IL you
| look siantwise at my head when the light
is good, you will yourself perceive that there
| are places where the hair is sparse"
1T Is for you also to bear the purse" said
the lady, for my sweet lord Is of so free
and gracious temper that he would give il
gayly to the first who asked aims of him.
| All these things, with some knowledge of
senerie ana OF the management of horse,
haWk and hound, with the grace. and
| hardlhood. and courtesy which are proper
TO your age. will make you fit squire for
Sir Nigel Lorfng' -s5r
aiaS' iduy, AllSyue answered, know
| well the great honor that you have done
me In deeming me worthy to wait upon so
| renowned a Knight, Yet am so conscious
OF my own weakness that I scarce dare
incur duties which l might be so ill-ftted
to fulfill"
"Modesty and an humble mind" said she
are, .4.e- Very nTst ana rarest gifts in page
or squire Your words prove that you
have these, and all the rest is but the work
of use and time. But there is no call for
haste Rest upon 1t for the night, and let
your prisons ask for guidance in the mat
ter. We knew your father WELL and would
fam help his son, though we have small
cause to love your brother. the socman
who is forever stirring UP strife in the
county,"
I'VE can scarce hope" said Nigel, ito
have all ready for our start before the
feast of st. Luke. for there is much to be
done in the time. You will have leisure
therefore, If 1t please you to take service
| under me, in which to learn your devoir.
Bertrand, my daughters page. is hot to go;
but In sooth he is over-young for such
rough work as may be before u.s.
And / have one favor to crave from
you," added the lady Of the castle. as AL
leyne turned to leave their presence. You
have, as understand, much learning which
you have acquired at Beaulieu?'
Little enough, lady, compared with
those who were my teachers"
Yet enough for my purpose, / doubt
not. For 1 would have you give an hour
or two day while you are with us In dis
coursing with my daughter, the Lady
Maude; for she is somewhat backward
fear, and hath no love for letters, save for
these poor fond romances, which do but
fill her empty head with dreams of en-
chanted maidens and of errant cavaliers.
Father Christopher comes over after nones
from the priory, but he is stricken with
years and slow of speech, so that she gets
small profit from his teaching. / would
have you do what you can with her, and
with Agatha, my young tire-woman, and
with Dorothy Pierpoint.'
And SO Alleyne found himself not only
chosen as squire to knight, but also as
squire to three damosels, which was even
further from the part which he had
thought to play in the world. Yet he could
but agree to do what he might, and so
went forth from the castle hall with his
face flushed and his head in a whirl at the
thought of the strange and perilous paths
which his feet were destined to tread.
CTo be continued tomorrow)