Ralph and Dicky Cheke followed hastily, and as they turned the corner by the well-house they saw, standing in the full light of the sun, a splendid horse, held by a groom in the livery and wearing the badge of the Lord of Briddlesford, Sir William de Lisle. As Ralph drew near, the man held up a note, saying to Ralph, to whom he was well known,-- "My young mistress, the Lady Yolande, sends you this, with my lord’s leave. ’Tis a well-trained horse, if ever there was one, and hath borne one in tilt and tourney, whom I’d like well enough to see here again. But as that mayn’t be, and you bear the name of Lisle, you are to ride him; he’s yours for the day--and maybe for ever." Ralph was utterly surprised. He took the note mechanically, opened it, and read it. It was from Yolande, and said that as she could not give Ralph her favour, which he would see worn elsewhere, she had sent him the best thing she could for him to win it. She deeply deplored the accident to Black Tom, and hoped White Will would make up in some slight way for the disappointment he had suffered. The horse had belonged to her half-brother, and was well used to his work. "Therefore," she added, "ride boldly, as I know you will, and fear not to press the horse, for ’tis your own Good luck--your loving cousin--YOLANDE." Ralph’s joy was boundless. He instantly vaulted on to the noble animal, and rode him round the yard, to the admiration of every one, excepting Bowerman and Newenhall, the former of whom looked on with scowling brow and sneering mouth; the latter in blank stolidity. "I sha’n’t be able to do for him to-day," muttered Bowerman; "but to-morrow, in the fight with axes and hand-strokes, I can do somewhat." "But you are not allowed to take part in it, Bowerman," said Willie. "Gammon! I’ll do it somehow, trust me," answered Bowerman fiercely. While the pages were having their breakfast, they talked of nothing but the tournament, and who were coming. Bowerman and Newenhall, from their superior age and knowledge of the island, as well as from having seen a tournament before at London, when Lord Woodville had been one of the challengers, were able to lay down the law upon all points connected with the tilt; and Dicky Cheke, who prided himself on his great acquirements, was rather quenched. "And the two Bretons will have two other knights to join them," Bowerman was saying. "There’s Sir Richard Cornwall, a very valiant knight, and much skilled in tilts and jousts; but who the other is no one knows, but I have a good guess--leastways, he is sure to be brave, and well skilled in warlike feats." "Well, then," said Dicky Cheke, "let’s see who there is for us. There’s my brother, he’ll be a good one; then there’s Sir John Keineys, he who married old Hackett’s daughter, of Knighton Gorges."