Eveline entered the castle-court, with the kindling eye and glowing brow which her ancestors were wont to bear in danger and extremity, when their soul was arming to meet the storm, and displayed in their mien and looks high command and contempt of danger. She seemed at the moment taller than her usual size; and it was with a voice distinct and clearly heard, though not exceeding the delicacy of feminine tone, that the mutineers heard her address them. "How is this, my masters?" she said; and as she spoke, the bulky forms of the armed soldiers seemed to draw closer together, as if to escape her individual censure. It was like a group of heavy water-fowl, when they close to avoid the stoop of the slight and beautiful merlin, dreading the superiority of its nature and breeding over their own inert physical strength.--"How now?" again she demanded of them; "is it a time, think ye, to mutiny, when your lord is absent, and his nephew and lieutenant lies stretched on a bed of sickness?--Is it thus you keep your oaths?--Thus ye merit your leader's bounty?--Shame on ye, craven hounds, that quail and give back the instant you lose sight of the huntsman!" There was a pause--the soldiers looked on each other, and then again on Eveline, as if ashamed alike to hold out in their mutiny, or to return to their usual discipline. "I see how it is, my brave friends--ye lack a leader here; but stay not for that--I will guide you myself, and, woman as I am, there need not a man of you fear disgrace where a Berenger commands.--Trap my palfrey with a steel saddle," she said, "and that instantly." She snatched from the ground the page's light head-piece, and threw it over her hair, caught up his drawn sword, and went on. "Here I promise you my countenance and guidance-- this gentleman," she pointed to Genvil, "shall supply my lack of military skill. He looks like a man that hath seen many a day of battle, and can well teach a young leader her devoir." "Certes," said the old soldier, smiling in spite of himself, and shaking his head at the same time, "many a battle have I seen, but never under such a commander." "Nevertheless," said Eveline, seeing how the eyes of the rest turned on Genvil, "you do not--cannot--will not--refuse to follow me? You do not as a soldier, for my weak voice supplies your captain's orders--you cannot as a gentleman, for a lady, a forlorn and distressed female, asks you a boon--you will not as an Englishman, for your country requires your sword, and your comrades are in danger. Unfurl your banner, then, and march." "I would do so, upon my soul, fair lady," answered Genvil, as if preparing to unfold the banner--"And Amelot might lead us well enough, with advantage of some lessons from me, But I wot not whether you are sending us on the right road." "Surely, surely," said Eveline, earnestly, "it must be the right road which conducts you to the relief of Wenlock and his followers, besieged by the insurgent boors."