After a word or two with the officer, De Freston dismissed his servants, who retired to the great feast daily prepared for them, and which, with forest rangers, watchers, warders, soldiers, and serving-men, was always a joyful meeting. It was then that they were permitted to arrange themselves around the great log fire, and speak of the adventures by flood and field any of them had heard, or manifest their regard for their master's honor; and many a boy imbibed that feudal loyalty which induced him to devote his life to his superior. The iron helmet rang upon the broad stone pavement of the room, as each soldier threw it off, and exposed to view a manly countenance, then covered with profuse locks and thick beard, and took his seat among some of the less encumbered domestics. Wit, fun, and frolic, had then their hour, and tales of the stables, of the river, of the park, the town, the village, the country, and often tales of love circulated rapidly. Some would talk of the great doings of the former Barons of De Freston, the feats of his followers, and the perils they had escaped. Then was discussed, too, that all-important question with all the retainers, the settlement of their beloved mistress. 'I have no faith in these learned gentry,' exclaimed a sturdy fellow of the name of Bigmore, whose fathers had served the Lords De Freston for many generations. 'I have no faith in these learned gentry for the lord of my young mistress, though, bless her heart, she is worthy of the most learned man in the land; though old Joe Jordan, with his usual long face, declares that there will never be another warrior in the house of De Freston.' 'So say I now, Hugh--so say I now; and if I do say it, may be, I may not regret the day I see it, should I see your troop disbanded and peace and liberty reigning without the help of the sword. You laugh at me as a mechanic, as my lord's carpenter; now, to my mind, building peaceful habitations is far pleasanter than building castles, towers, or fortifications. I say now, that the tower of peace which we have just finished on the banks of the Orwell, unsuited as it is for attack and defence, will stand longer than many a baron's castle, and, may be, outlast even the habitation of its builder.' 'Why true, Master Jordan, it is but a slight concern, and might be easily battered to pieces.' 'And for that very reason men will not think it worth their while to attack it. It is built for my lady's tower. It is merely for her pleasure, that she may not be weary in het pursuits of science, and that no one may interfere therewith. Warriors as you are, you would none of you fight against a woman, and therefore will this lady's tower be respected, aye, should all the warriors be set in battle array against each other, and the bloody rose meet the pale one in De Freston's park.' 'Ah, well! methinks, Jordan, thou wouldst have thy mistress marry a priest.' 'And pray why is not a priest as good a man as a lord?'