EFFIGY OF SIR RO AND HIS LADY, IN STALEY CHAPEL, MOTTRAM CHURCH.
Bit by bit the knight drew from her all the story: how her new suitor had been the one to bring tidings of her lord’s death, and how he, having secured the Staley estates, now offered her the choice of a union with him or beggary for herself and her people.
Then Sir Ro, unable to restrain himself any longer, uttered her name in his own voice, and instantly she recognised him, and, with a great cry, fell into his arms.
Now the joyful cry uttered by the Lady of Staley rang throughout the hall, and, full of wonder and fear, the retainers rushed to the chamber, feeling that they had been indiscreet to leave her alone with an unknown palmer. The treacherous knight, who, by his lying tale, sought to entrap her into marriage, also appeared upon the scene, and, in a voice of anger, demanded of the palmer what he wanted, and by what right he was there.
“By the best right in the world,” answered Sir Ro—“the right of master.”
“Insolent,” cried the traitor-knight in a fury, drawing his sword as he spake. “Thou shalt pay dearly for thy folly.”
But Sir Ro, with a sharp action, cast from his shoulders the palmer’s disguise, and, standing forth in the full glory of his warlike figure, snatched a mace from the wall, and advanced to meet his enemy.
“A Staley, a Staley!” he cried, giving forth the rallying cry of his house in a voice which the retainers knew of old.