The lady's presence was certainly a restraint on the rude men-at-
arms, though two or three of them seemed to her rough, reckless-
looking men. After the meal all her kindly instincts were aroused to
ask what she could do for the young squire, and he willingly put
himself into her hands, for his hurt had become much more painful
within the last day or two, as indeed it proved to be festering, and
in great need of treatment.
Before the day was over the two had made friends, and Grisell had
found him to be a gentle, scholarly youth, whom the defence of the
Queen had snatched from his studies into the battlefield. He told
her a great deal about the good King, and his encouragement of his
beloved scholars at Eton, and he spoke of Queen Margaret with an
enthusiasm new to Grisell, who had only heard her reviled as the
Frenchwoman. Pierce could speak with the greatest admiration, too,
of his own knight, Sir Leonard, whom he viewed as the pink of
chivalry, assuring Lady Copeland, as he called her, that she need
never doubt for a moment of his true honour and courtesy. Grisell
longed to know, but modest pride forbade her to ask, whether he knew
how matters stood with her rival, Lady Eleanor Audley. Ridley,
however, had no such feeling, and he reported to Grisell what he had
discovered.
Young Hardcastle had only once seen the lady, and had thought her
very beautiful, as she looked from a balcony when King Henry was
riding to his Parliament.
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