"What do you know of Knighton Gorges?" broke in Bowerman. "You hold your tongue, and listen to your betters. There’s Keineys, and John Meaux, and John Leigh of Landgard, Tichborne from Lemerston, young Trenchard from Shalfleet, old Jack-in-Harness’s nephew, Will Bruyn from Affeton, and Dick Oglander. They are all fair enough, but I wish they were better trained. They’ve all got rusty since these peaceful times have come." "You’ve forgotten Dineley of Woolverton; and I hear old Bremshot of Gatecombe has sent over to young Dudley, who married his daughter; and there’s--" "Oh, you have done!" broke in Bowerman angrily. "You’re always talking, and get hold of the wrong end of the story, and--" "He doesn’t," said Maurice; "and he knows as much of the island as you do, and more, too--" "Ay, marry, do I! And what’s more, before ever your beggarly family came here, the Chekes of Mottestone were lords of Mottestone for more than a hundred years--" A blow from Bowerman was the rejoinder to this remark, which Dicky foresaw, and avoided by ducking under the table, while Maurice and Ralph interposed to prevent any further quarrelling. "And when do we ride our courses, Bowerman?" said Ralph, always ready to receive information, and totally devoid of all personal vanity. "Oh, you’ll know soon enough; leastways, yours’ll come after mine, and then you’ll find out." It was now but an hour and a half before the tilt would begin. The two boys who were to act as pages to Lord Woodville hastened to dress, and attend upon him. It appeared he was not going to tilt, but would act as judge and umpire with Sir John Trenchard and Sir Nicholas Wadham.[*] [*] Afterwards Captain of the Isle of Wight under Henry VII. and Henry VIII. The three pages who were going to take part in the tilt went to get ready also, and were carefully instructed in their duties by Tom o’ Kingston. The space around the lists was becoming crowded. There was no more popular amusement than a tourney, and as the arrangements were very costly, they did not very often occur in the provinces. But in a garrison like that of Carisbroke Castle, there was always to be found some one who would share in the expense, and earn popularity and experience at the same time. There was a greater amount of interest than usual on this occasion, because there was something international in the contest, and it was known that several of the island gentry were going to take part in it.