“He might go in as a valet,” said Phoena. “No, you needn’t look offended, Hubert. A valet in those days didn’t mean a man who brushed clothes, but simply a vassalet or little page. He began his training for the knighthood just about your age, and valet was only the short for vassalet.”
“Vaseline you mean,” said Di, wickedly.
But Phoena went on:
“His chief duties were to attend his lord in the chase, to learn from him how to shoot and use the lance, to be taught courteous ways towards ladies, and to be ever of a modest and obedient behaviour.”
“Then, as I’m eldest, you’ll have to be my valet,” broke in Andrew.
“Only so long as you treat him properly, though,” said both boys; while Hubert, content through sad necessity, accepted these terms.
“But what shall we girls have to do?” asked Di. “I suppose we shall have to fulfil our good intentions in some way or other.”
“Of course,” said Phoena, “we shall have to be much more careful than the knights to fulfil our vows and to set them a good example. In olden times it was always the ladies, you know, who used to inspire the flower of chivalry to do noble deeds and teach high thoughts and——”
“High jinks will be what Di’ll teach us, and nothing else,” laughed Jack; “but I say, what about taking that little French beggar into the Order.”
“Oh! please do,” begged both the infants.