"The first thing, sir; and, by the way, as we're going to begin to get our garrison together, it'll be as well to make a little show. If I was you, I'd put on a pair of buff boots, wear a sword and a sash always, and I don't say put on a lot of armour, but if you'll let me, I'll take the gorget off that suit of Italian armour, and you can wear that." "But it will look so--" said Roy, flushing. "Yes, sir; but we've got to look so," said the old soldier, decidedly. "It makes people respect you; and if you'll be good enough to give me my orders, I'll take to a buff coat and steel cap at once." "Very well, do so," said Roy. "But I will not promise to make any show myself." "But you must, sir, please, for her ladyship's sake. Look here, Master Roy, you'll be calling the tenants and labourers together, and you'll have to make them a speech." "Shall I?" said Roy, nervously. "Why, of course, sir, telling 'em what their duty is, and calling upon 'em to fight for their king, their country, and their homes. Yes, that's it, sir; that's just what you've got to say." "Well, Ben, if I must, I must." "Then must it is, sir; but if they come here to the castle, and you're like you are now, they'll be only half warmed up, and say that Master Roy can talk, and some of 'em'll sneer and snigger; but if you come out when they're all here, looking like your father's son in a cavalier hat and feathers, with the gorget on, and the king's colours for a sash, ay, and buff boots and spurs--" "Oh, no, not spurs when I'm walking," protested Roy. "Yes, sir, spurs,--a big pair with gilt rowels, as'll _clink-clink_ with every step you take; they'll set up a cheer, and swear to fight for you, when you've done, to the death. And look here, Master Roy, when you've done speaking, you just wave your hat, and chuck it up in the air, as if fine felts and ostridge feathers weren't nothing to you, who called upon 'em all to fight for the king." Roy drew a deep sigh, for his follower's words had nearly made him breathless. "We shall see," he sighed. "Yes, sir, we shall see," cried Ben. "So now, if you please, sir, I won't wait to be getting into my buff jerkin now, but I'll take your orders for what we're to do first." "Yes, Ben; what ought we to do first?" "Well, sir, it's you as know. You said something about strengthening the guard at the gate." "Oh, but I say, Ben, that was you said so." "Only as your mouthpiece, sir." "But it sounds silly to talk about strengthening the guard at the gate when we've only got old Jenk, and no regular sentry to put there." "Never you mind about how it sounds, sir, so long as it's sense," cried Ben, striking his fist into his left palm. "We've got to make our garrison and our sentries out of the raw stuff, and the sooner we begin to sound silly now the better. It won't be silly for any one who comes and finds a staunch man there, who would sooner send a musketoon bullet through him than let him pass."