Each lad had his own horse and his own weapons, whilst Edred had one or two books over which he claimed absolute possession; but for the rest, they enjoyed all properties in common, and it had hardly entered into their calculations that they could ever be separated, save when the idea of making Edred into a monk came under discussion; and as that would not be done for some years, it scarcely seemed worth troubling over now.
Perhaps things would turn out differently in the end, and they would remain together at Chad for the whole of their natural lives.
Nurse never wearied of the tales told by her young masters, and listened with fond pride to the recital.

So eagerly were Bertram and Julian talking, that they did not heed the sound of the horn at the gate way which bespoke the arrival of some messenger; but Edred slipped out to see who could be coming, and presently he returned with a frown upon his brow.
"There is a messenger at the gate who wears the livery of Mortimer," he said.

"An insolent knave to boot, who flung his missive in the face of old Ralph, and spurred off with a mocking laugh.

I would I had had my good steed between my knees, and I would have given the rascal a lesson in manners.

I like not these messengers from Mortimer; they always betide ill will to my father." Lady Chadgrove looked anxious for a moment, but her brow soon cleared as she made answer: "I shall be sorry if aught comes to grieve or vex your father; but so long as we are careful to give no just cause for offence, we need not trouble our heads overmuch as to the jealous anger of the Lord of Mortimer.