"It is a knight's chain," the lady said, smiling, "and was part of the spoil gained by King Edward from the French. Maybe," she added kindly, "it will be worn by a knight again. Stranger things have happened, you know." Walter flushed again with pleasure. "Maybe, lady," he said modestly, "even apprentices have their dreams, and men-at-arms may always hope, by deeds of valor, to attain a knight's spurs even though they may not be of noble blood or have served as page and squire to a baron; but whether as a 'prentice or soldier, I hope I shall never do discredit to your gift." "Edith, come here," Dame Vernon said, "I have done talking now. And what are you going to give this brave knight of ours who saved us from drowning?" The girl looked thoughtfully at Walter. "I don't think you would care for presents," she said; "and you look as if a sword or a horse would suit you better than a girl's gift. And yet I should like to give you something, such as ladies give their knights who have done brave deeds for them. It must be something quite my own, and you must take it as a keepsake. What shall it be, mamma?" "Give him the bracelet which your cousin gave you last week," her mother said; "I would rather that you did not keep it, and I know you are not very fond of him." "I can't bear him," the girl said earnestly, "and I wish he would not kiss me; he always looks as if he were going to bite, and I will gladly give his bracelet to this brave boy." "Very well, Edith, fetch the bracelet from that coffer in the corner." The girl went to the coffer and brought out the little bracelet; then she approached Walter. "You must go down on your knee," she said; "true knights always do that to receive their lady's gifts. Now hold out your hand. There," she went on in a pretty imperious way, "take this gage as a reward of your valor, and act ever as a true knight in the service of your lady." [Illustration: "TAKE THIS GAGE AS A REWARD OF YOUR VALOR."--Page 62] Bending down she dropped a kiss upon Walter's glowing cheek, and then, half-frightened at her own temerity, ran back to her mother's side. "And now," Dame Vernon went on, "will you thank your five comrades for their service in the matter, and give them each two gold pieces to spend as they will?"