Rise, Sir Sholto!" But for all that he rose not immediately, for the head of the young man whirled, and little drumming pulses beat in his temples.

His heart cried within him like the overword of a song, "Does she hear?
Will she care?
Will this bring me nearer to her ?" So that, in spite of his lord's command, he continued to kneel, till lusty James of Avondale came and caught him by the elbow.

"Up, Sir Knight, and give grace and good thank to your lord.

Not your head but mine hath a right to be muzzy with the coup I gat this day on the green meadow of the Boat Croft." And practical William of Avondale whispered in his cousin's ear, "And the lands for the youth that we spoke of." "Moreover," said the Earl, "that you may suitably support the knighthood which your sword has won, I freely bestow on you the forty-shilling lands of Aireland and Lincolns with Screel and Ben Gairn, on condition that you and yours shall keep the watch-fires laid ready for the lighting, and that in time you rear you sturdy yeomen to bear in the Douglas train the banneret of MacKim of Aireland." Sholto stood before his generous lord trembling and speechless, while James Douglas shook him by the elbow and encouraged him roughly, "Say thy say, man; hast lost thy tongue ?" But William Douglas nodded approval of the youth.
"Nay," he said, "let alone, James! I like the lad the better that he hath no ready tongue.

'Tis not the praters that fight as this youth hath fought this day!" So all that Sholto found himself able to do, was no more than to kneel on one knee and kiss his master's hand.
"I am too young," he muttered.