I will speak to the Earl William this day concerning you." Lord Maxwell rode on at the head of his company with a courteous salutation, which not a few behind him who had heard the colloquy imitated.

Laurence stood there with his heart working like yeast within him, and his colour coming and going to think what he had been offered and what he had refused.
"God's truth," he said to himself, "I might have been a great man if I had chosen, while Sholto, that old sober sides, was left lagging behind." Then he looked about for his bow and went swaggering along as if he were already Sir Laurence and the leader of an army.
But Nemesis was upon him, and that in the fashion which his pride would feel the most.
"Take that, beast of a Laurence!" cried a voice behind him.
And the lad received a jolt from behind which loosened his teeth in their sockets and discomposed the dignified stride with which in imagination he was commanding the armies of the Douglas..