She had but a faint remembrance of the events which occurred between the time when she received a blow from the sword of one of her assailants and that when she found herself on a couch in the abode of her kinsman; and when she had been told that she had been saved by a city apprentice she had pictured to herself a lad of a very different kind to him who now stood before her.
Walter was now nearly sixteen years old.

His frame was very powerful and firmly knit.

His dark brown hair was cut short, but, being somewhat longer than was ordinary with the apprentices, fell with a slight wave back on his forehead.

His bearing was respectful, and at the same time independent.

There was none of that confusion which might be expected on the part of a lad from the city in the presence of a lady of rank.