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whistle。
〃This time thou hast struck us all out； Myles；〃 said he。 〃There be no
more play for us until we get another ball。〃
The outfielders came slowly trooping in until they had gathered in a
little circle around Myles。
〃I could not help it；〃 said Myles； in answer to their grumbling。 〃How
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knew I the ball would fly so far？ But if I ha' lost the ball； I can get it again。
I will climb the wall for it。〃
〃Thou shalt do naught of the kind； Myles；〃 said Gascoyne； hastily。
〃Thou art as mad as a March hare to think of such a venture！ Wouldst get
thyself shot with a bolt betwixt the ribs； like poor Diccon Cook？〃
Of all places about the castle the privy garden was perhaps the most
sacred。 It was a small plot of ground； only a few rods long and wide； and
was kept absolutely private for the use of the Countess and her family。
Only a little while before Myles had first come to Devlen； one of the
cook's men had been found climbing the wall； whereupon the soldier who
saw him shot him with his cross bow。 The poor fellow dropped from the
wall into the garden； and when they found him； he still held a bunch of
flowers in his hand； which he had perhaps been gathering for his
sweetheart。
Had Myles seen him carried on a litter to the infirmary as Gascoyne
and some of the others had done； he might have thought twice before
venturing to enter the ladies' private garden。 As it was； he only shook his
stubborn head； and said again； 〃I will climb the wall and fetch it。〃
Now at the lower extremity of the court； and about twelve or fifteen
feet distant from the garden wall； there grew a pear…tree； some of the
branches of which overhung into the garden beyond。 So； first making sure
that no one was looking that way； and bidding the others keep a sharp
lookout； Myles shinned up this tree； and choosing one of the thicker limbs；
climbed out upon it for some little distance。 Then lowering his body； he
hung at arm's…length； the branch bending with his weight； and slowly let
himself down hand under hand； until at last he hung directly over the top
of the wall； and perhaps a foot above it。 Below him he could see the leafy
top of an arbor covered with a thick growth of clematis； and even as he
hung there he noticed the broad smooth walks； the grassy terrace in front
of the Countess's apartments in the distance； the quaint flower…beds； the
yew…trees trimmed into odd shapes； and even the deaf old gardener
working bare…armed in the sunlight at a flower…bed in the far corner by the
tool…house。
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The top of the wall was pointed like a house roof； and immediately
below him was covered by a thick growth of green moss； and it flashed
through his mind as he hung there that maybe it would offer a very
slippery foothold for one dropping upon the steep slopes of the top。 But it
was too late to draw back now。
Bracing himself for a moment； he loosed his hold upon the limb above。
The branch flew back with a rush； and he dropped； striving to grasp the
sloping angle with his feet。 Instantly the treacherous slippery moss slid
away from beneath him； he made a vain clutch at the wall； his fingers
sliding over the cold stones； then； with a sharp exclamation； down he
pitched bodily into the garden beneath！ A thousand thoughts flew through
his brain like a cloud of flies； and then a leafy greenness seemed to strike
up against him。 A splintering crash sounded in his ears as the lattice top of
the arbor broke under him； and with one final clutch at the empty air he
fell heavily upon the ground beneath。
He heard a shrill scream that seemed to find an instant echo； even as
he fell he had a vision of faces and bright colors； and when he sat up；
dazed and bewildered； he found himself face to face with the Lady Anne；
the daughter of the house； and her cousin； the Lady Alice； who clutching
one another tightly； stood staring at him with wide scared eyes。
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CHAPTER 18
For a little time there was a pause of deep silence； during which the
fluttering leaves came drifting down from the broken arbor above。
It was the Lady Anne who first spoke。 〃Who art thou； and whence
comest thou？〃 said she； tremulously。
Then Myles gathered himself up sheepishly。 〃My name is Myles
Falworth；〃 said he； 〃and I am one of the squires of the body。〃
〃Oh！ aye！〃 said the Lady Alice； suddenly。 〃Me thought I knew thy face。
Art thou not the young man that I have seen in Lord George's train？〃
〃Yes； lady；〃 said Myles； wrapping and twining a piece of the broken
vine in and out among his fingers。 〃Lord George hath often had me of late
about his person。〃
〃And what dost thou do here； sirrah？〃 said Lady Anne； angrily。 〃How
darest thou come so into our garden？〃
〃I meant not to come as I did；〃 said Myles； clumsily； and with a face
hot and red。 〃But I slipped over the top of the wall and fell hastily into the
garden。 Truly； lady； I meant ye no harm or fright thereby。〃
He looked so drolly abashed as he stood before them； with his clothes
torn and soiled from the fall； his face red； and his eyes downcast； all the
while industriously twisting the piece of clematis in and around his fingers；
that Lady Anne's half…frightened anger could not last。 She and her cousin
exchanged glances； and smiled at one another。
〃But；〃 said she at last； trying to draw her pretty brows together into a
frown； 〃tell me； why didst thou seek to climb the wall？〃
〃I came to seek a ball；〃 said Myles； 〃which I struck over hither from
the court beyond。〃
〃And wouldst thou come into our privy garden for no better reason
than to find a ball？〃 said the young lady。
〃Nay；〃 said Myles； 〃it was not so much to find the ball； but； in good
sooth； I did truly strike it harder than need be； and so； gin I lost the ball； I
could do no less than come and find it again； else our sport is done for the
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day。 So it was I came hither。〃
The two young