But I must not tarry, lest danger be in my rear: therefore, farewell,
sweet Matilda; and farewell, noble baron; and farewell, sweet Matilda again,
the alpha and omega of father Michael, the first and the last."
"Farewell, father," said the baron, a little softened;
"and God send you be never assailed by more than fifty men
at a time."
"Amen," said the friar, "to that good wish."
"And we shall meet again, father, I trust," said Matilda.
"When the storm is blown over," said the baron.
"Doubt it not," said the friar, "though flooded Trent were between us,
and fifty devils guarded the bridge."
He kissed Matilda's forehead, and walked away without a song.
CHAPTER VIII
Let gallows gape for dog: let man go free. Henry V.
A page had been brought up in Gamwell-Hall, who, while he was little,
had been called Little John, and continued to be so called after
he had grown to be a foot taller than any other man in the house.
He was full seven feet high. His latitude was worthy of his longitude,
and his strength was worthy of both; and though an honest man by profession,
he had practiced archery on the king's deer for the benefit of his
master's household, and for the improvement of his own eye and hand,
till his aim had become infallible within the range of two miles.
He had fought manfully in defence of his young master, took his captivity
exceedingly to heart, and fell into bitter grief and boundless rage
when he heard that he had been tried in Nottingham and sentenced to die.
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