"I am an armourer, and mayhap can use arms as well as make them." There was a laugh among the men at the boy's sturdy self-assertion, and then the man named Dikon said: "Come along, lad.

I will take you to Dame Vernon at once.

She is expecting you; and, my faith, it would not be safe to leave you standing here long, for I see you would shortly be engaged in splitting the weasands of my comrades." There was another roar of laughter from the men, and Walter, somewhat abashed, followed his conductor into the house.

Leading him through the hall and along several corridors, whose spaciousness and splendour quite overpowered the young apprentice, he handed him over to a waiting woman, who ushered him into an apartment where Dame Vernon was reclining on a couch.

Her little daughter was sitting upon a low stool beside her, and upon seeing Walter she leapt to her feet, clapping her hands.
"Oh! mother, this is the boy that rescued us out of the river." The lady looked with some surprise at the lad.