have a sore hand to nurse for a while. It may serve to distract his mind."
"By your leave, madam," said Hugh, rising, "I will thank your ladyship, and retire to my own quarters. I feel my age now, after even so slight a skirmish as this morning's affair."
"I will not forget to see you suitably rewarded for your service," said Lady Mortimer, "and the baron shall himself thank you also upon his return. Meanwhile the attempt of to-day puts an end to all uncertainty of the Count de Ferrers' intentions. We shall have to stand a siege, and we may be thankful that we have put all in readiness. After to-day, as the harvesting is about completed, we shall see that the garrison is on the alert as if we were indeed at war. With so strong and unscrupulous an enemy, we must leave nothing undone for our security."
