"I will teach you that throw some -day, friend," he was saying."Had I not known the trick of it, you had mauled me sadly.I had liefer grapple with a bear.
Aelward moistened his lips."You have beat me fairly, armed and weaponless," he said, and his voice had no anger in it.
"Talk not of beating between neighbours," was the answer."We have played together and I have had the luck of it.It will be your turn to break my head to-morrow.""Head matters little," grumbled Aelward."Mine has stood harder dints.But you have broken my leg, and that means a month of housekeeping."Jehan made splints of ash for the leg, and set him upon his horse, and in this wise they came to the bridge of Galland fen.On the far side of the water stood the Lady Hilda.He halted and waited on her bidding.She gazed speechless at the horse whereon sat her brother with a clouted scalp.
"What ails you, Frenchman?" said Aelward."It is but a half-grown girl of my father's begetting.""I have vowed not to pass that bridge till yonder lady bids me.""Then for the pity of Christ bid him, sister.He and I are warm with play and yearn for a flagon."In this manner did Jehan first enter the house of Galland, whence in the next cowslip-time he carried a bride to Highstead.
The months passed smoothly in the house on the knoll above the fat fen pastures.Jehan forsook his woodcraft for the work of byre and furrow and sheepfold, and the yield of his lands grew under his wardenship.He brought heavy French cattle to improve the little native breed, and made a garden of fruit trees where once had been only bent and sedge.The thralls wrought cheerfully for him, for he was a kindly master, and the freemen of the manor had no complaint against one who did impartial justice and respected their slow and ancient ways.As for skill in hunting, there was no fellow to the lord of Highstead between Trent and Thames.