When the German came to himself, he was lying close to Misticot's open grave on the soft earth which had been thrown out. He began to turn his mind to projects of revenge. It must, he thought, be either Monkbarns or Sir Arthur who had done this, in order to be revenged upon him. And his mind finally deciding upon the latter, as most likely to have set Edie Ochiltree on to deceive him, he determined from that moment to achieve the ruin of his "dear and honoured patron" of the last five years.
As he left the precincts of the ruined Priory, he continued his vows of vengeance against Edie and all associated with him. He had, he declared aloud, been assaulted and murdered, besides being robbed of fifty pounds as well. He would, on the very next day, put the law in motion "against all the peoples"--but against Edie Ochiltree first of all.
The snow was now deep in the woods about the library. It lay sleek and drifted upon the paths, a broad-flaked, mortar-like snow, evidently produced on the borderland between thawing and freezing.
"It is fine and buttery," said Hugh John, with a glance of intention at Sir Toady Lion, which was equal to any challenge ever sent from Douglas to Percy--or even that which Mr. Lesley carried for Hector MacIntyre to Mr. Lovel's Fairport lodgings.
Sir Toady nodded with fierce willingness. He scented the battle from afar.
"Ten yards then, twenty snowballs made before you begin, and then go as you please. But no rushing in, before first volley!"
"And no holding the balls under the drip of the kitchen roof!" said Hugh John, who had suffered from certain Toady Lionish practices which personally he scorned.
"Well, then," said I, "out you go in your jerseys for one hot half-hour. But no standing about, mind!"
Sweetheart and Maid Margaret looked exceedingly wistful.
"Of course," I said, "Sweetheart will want to go on with her knitting, but if she likes, the Maid can watch them from the window."
"Oo-oh!" said Maid Margaret, "I _should_ like to go too!"
"And I should not mind going either," admitted Sweetheart, "just to see that they did not hurt the Maid. They are such rough boys!"
So it was arranged, as I had known it would be from the first. The snow was still falling, but the wind had gone down. There was to be no standing still, and afterward they were to change immediately for dinner. These were the conditions of permitted civil strife.