`` In God 's good time , which because of my sins I shall not live to see , there will be neither Saxon nor Norman in England , '' said De Aquila . `` If I know men , thou art more faithful unsworn than a score of Normans I could name . Take Dallington , and join Sir Richard to fight me tomorrow , if it please thee ! '' ' `` Nay , '' said Hugh . `` I am no child . Where I take a gift , there I render service '' ; and he put his hands between De Aquila 's , and swore to be faithful , and , as I remember , I kissed him , and De Aquila kissed us both . ` We sat afterwards outside the hut while the sun rose , and De Aquila marked our churls going to their work in the fields , and talked of holy things , and how we should govern our Manors in time to come , and of hunting and of horse-breeding , and of the King 's wisdom and unwisdom ; for he spoke to us as though we were in all sorts now his brothers . Anon a churl stole up to me -- he was one of the three I had not hanged a year ago -- and he bellowed -- which is the Saxon for whispering -- that the Lady Ælueva would speak to me at the Great House . She walked abroad daily in the Manor , and it was her custom to send me word whither she went , that I might set an archer or two behind and in front to guard her . Very often I myself lay up in the woods and watched on her also . ' I went swiftly , and as I passed the great door it opened from within , and there stood my Lady Ælueva , and she said to me : `` Sir Richard , will it please you enter your Great Hall ? '' Then she wept , but we were alone . ' The knight was silent for a long time , his face turned across the valley , smiling . ` Oh , well done ! ' said Una , and clapped her hands very softly . ` She was sorry , and she said so . ' ` Aye , she was sorry , and she said so , ' said Sir Richard , coming back with a little start . ` Very soon -- but he said it was two full hours later -- De Aquila rode to the door , with his shield new scoured -LRB- Hugh had cleansed it -RRB- , and demanded entertainment , and called me a false knight , that would starve his overlord to death . Then Hugh cried out that no man should work in the valley that day , and our Saxons blew horns , and set about feasting and drinking , and running of races , and dancing and singing ; and De Aquila climbed upon a horse-block and spoke to them in what he swore was good Saxon , but no man understood it . At night we feasted in the Great Hall , and when the harpers and the singers were gone we four sat late at the high table .
As I remember , it was a warm night with a full moon , and De Aquila bade Hugh take down his sword from the wall again , for the honour of the Manor of XXXXX , and Hugh took it gladly enough .
Aquila Dallington Hall House Saxon Saxons archer horse-block overlord Ælueva