s nigh thy path the while
nevertheless. Whither--"

"That is something strange," remarked the boy, affecting not to
hear the commencement of another question; "for I could be sworn
that not a squirrel or field mouse crosses my path but that I mark
him down. But I may not linger thus; the hour of our studies is
already here. I wish you good e'en; I must away home."

The boy would have been gone with a bound the next instant had not
the monk laid a detaining hand upon his arm. Edred saw by the
reluctance of his brother's mien that he resented being thus
stayed.

"One moment, good my son," said Brother Fabian. "Tell me whither
thy father and brother have gone. It is something too late in the
day for a hunting party; yet I knew not that the good knight
purposed any journey."

Edred saw the sudden flash that came into Julian's eyes. He was in
an agony lest the boy should betray his father's destination, which
to the astute mind of the monk might betray much more than his
brother himself knew; but as he heard Julian's words he drew his
breath more freely.

"Marry, hast thou not heard that my Lord of Beaumaris and Rochefort
goes a-hunting tomorrow with great muster? My father has gone to
join the goodly company assembling there. Wilt thou not go thither
too, Master Monk, and join the revelry that will make the hall ring
tonight? I trow there is welcome for all who come. I would my
father had taken me."

"Go to, saucy boy, go to!" replied the brother, half piqued, half
amused by the lad's boldness in thus implying that his place was at
a riotous revel such as generally took place when some great baron
invited his friends for a day's sport in the forest.

It was like enough that this hunting party had been arranged for
the morrow, and this road certainly led to Beaumaris and Rochefort.
The reply seemed to satisfy the monk, and he relaxed his grasp of
the boy's arm.

"I must not keep thee from thy studies longer," he said. "Say, what
does Brother Emmanuel teach you?"

"The Latin tongue and the use of the pen. Edred is a fine scribe
already. And he hath taught us our letters in Greek likewise; for
men are saying, he tells us, that it is shame that that language
has been neglected so long, since the Holy Scriptures were written
in it first."

"And he doubtless teaches you from the Holy Scriptures--"

"Ay; and from the writings of the fathers, and the mass book,"
added the boy. "We can all read Latin right well now.