CHAPTER XXXVIII. OF THE HOME-COMING TO HAMPSHIRE.

ItwasabrightJulymorningfourmonthsafterthatfatalfightintheSpanishbarranca.Ablueheavenstretchedabove,agreenrollingplainundulatedbelow,intersectedwithhedge-rowsandfleckedwithgrazingsheep.Thesunwasyetlowintheheaven,andtheredcowsstoodinthelongshadowoftheelms,chewingthecudandgazingwithgreatvacanteyesattwohorsemenwhowerespurringitdownthelongwhiteroadwhichdippedandcurvedawaybacktowherethetowersandpinnaclesbeneaththeflat-toppedhillmarkedtheoldtownofWinchester. Oftheridersonewasyoung,graceful,andfair,cladinplaindoubletandhosenofblueBrusselscloth,whichservedtoshowhisactiveandwell-knitfigure.Aflatvelvetcapwasdrawnforwardtokeeptheglarefromhiseyes,andherodewithlipscompressedandanxiousface,asonewhohasmuchcareuponhismind.Youngashewas,andpeacefulaswashisdress,thedaintygoldenspurswhichtwinkleduponhisheelsproclaimedhisknighthood,whilealongseamuponhisbrowandascaruponhistemplegaveamanlygracetohisrefinedanddelicatecountenance.Hiscomradewasalarge,red-headedmanuponagreatblackhorse,withahugecanvasbagslungfromhissaddle-bow,whichjingledandclinkedwitheverymovementofhissteed.Hisbroad,brownfacewaslightedupbyacontinualsmile,andhelookedslowlyfromsidetosidewitheyeswhichtwinkledandshonewithdelight.WellmightJohnrejoice,forwashenotbackinhisnativeHampshire,hadhenotDonDiego'sfivethousandcrownsraspingagainsthisknee,andaboveallwashenothimselfsquirenowtoSirAlleyneEdricson,theyoungSocmanofMinsteadlatelyknightedbytheswordoftheBlackPrincehimself,andesteemedbythewholearmyasoneofthemostrisingofthesoldiersofEngland. ForthelaststandoftheCompanyhadbeentoldthroughoutChristendomwhereverabravedeedofarmswasloved,andhonorshadflowedinuponthefewwhohadsurvivedit.FortwomonthsAlleynehadwaveredbetwixtdeathandlife,withabrokenribandashatteredheadyetyouthandstrengthandacleanlylifewerealluponhisside,andheawokefromhislongdeliriumtofindthatthewarwasover,thattheSpaniardsandtheirallieshadbeencrushedatNavaretta,andthattheprincehadhimselfheardthetaleofhisrideforsuccorandhadcomeinpersontohisbedsidetotouchhisshoulderwithhisswordandtoinsurethatsobraveandtrueamanshoulddie,ifhecouldnotlive,withintheorderofchivalry.TheinstantthathecouldsetfoottogroundAlleynehadstartedinsearchofhislord,butnowordcouldhehearofhim,deadoralive,andhehadcomehomenowsad-hearted,inthehopeofraisingmoneyuponhisestatesandsostartinguponhisquestoncemore.LandingatLondon,hehadhurriedonwithamindfullofcare,forhehadheardnowordfromHampshiresincetheshortnotewhichhadannouncedhisbrother'sdeath. “Bytherood!”criedJohn,lookingaroundhimexultantly,“wherehaveweseensinceweleftsuchnoblecows,suchfleecysheep,grasssogreen,oramansodrunkasyonderroguewholiesinthegapofthehedge?” “Ah,John,”Alleyneansweredwearily,“itiswellforyou,butIneverthoughtthatmyhome-comingwouldbesosadaone.MyheartisheavyformydearlordandforAylward,andIknownothowImaybreakthenewstotheLadyMaryandtotheLadyMaude,iftheyhavenotyethadtidingsofit.” Johngaveagroanwhichmadethehorsesshy.“Itisindeedablackbusiness,”saidhe.“Butbenotsad,forIshallgivehalfthesecrownstomyoldmother,andhalfwillIaddtothemoneywhichyoumayhave,andsoweshallbuyth