"How dost thou, Leonard?" he asked. "Did old Hal strike very hard?"
"I reck not," growled Leonard.
"How long will my uncle keep thee here?" asked Edmund sympathisingly.
"Till my father comes, unless the foolish wench should go and die.
She brought it on me, the peevish girl. She is always after me when
I want her least."
"Yea, is not she contracted to thee?"
"So they say; but at least this puts a stop to my being plagued with
her--do what they may to me. There's an end to it, if I hang for
it."
"They would never hang thee."
"None knows what you traitor folk of Nevil would do to a loyal
house," growled Leonard.
"Traitor, saidst thou," cried Edmund, clenching his fists. "'Tis thy
base Somerset crew that be the traitors."
"I'll brook no such word from thee," burst forth Leonard, flying at
him.
"Ha! ha!" laughed Edmund even as they grappled. "Who is the traitor
forsooth? Why, 'tis my father who should be King. 'Tis white-faced
Harry and his Beauforts--"
The words were cut short by a blow from Leonard, and the warder
presently found the two boys rolling on the floor together in hot
contest.
And meanwhile poor Grisell was trying to frame with her torn and
flayed cheeks and lips, "O lady, lady, visit it not on him! Let not
Leonard be punished. It was my fault for getting into his way when I
should have been in the garden. Dear Madge, canst thou speak for
him?"
Madge was Edmund's sister, Margaret of York, who stood trembling and
crying by Grisell's bed.
Pages:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25