Come hither, lad.

Tell me who thou art, and what is thy father's quality ?" "I am Laurence MacKim, an archer of my lord's guard, and the younger son of Malise MacKim, master armourer to the Douglas." Laurence, being still angry, rang out his titles as if they had been inscribed in the book of the Lion-King-at-Arms.
"Saints save us," cried the knight in swart armour, "all that!" Then, seeing the boy ready to answer back still more fiercely, he continued with a courteous wave of the hand.
"I humbly ask your pardon, Master Laurence.

I am glad the son of Brawny Kim hath no small part of his father's spirit.

Will you take service and be my esquire, as becomes well a lad of parts who desires to win his way to a knighthood ?" The heart of Laurence MacKim beat quickly--a horse to ride--an esquire--perhaps if he had luck and much fighting, a knighthood.
Nevertheless, he answered with a bold straight look out of his black eyes.
"I am an archer of my lord Douglas' outer guard.

I can have no promotion save from him or those of his house--not even from the King himself." "Well said!" cried the knight; "small wonder that the Douglas is the greatest man in Scotland.