upper.

Notwithstanding the feast recently partaken of at the priory, the
brothers appeared by no means loath to sit down once again, and
Edred could not but observe how differently they comported
themselves from Brother Emmanuel, and how thoroughly they
appreciated the dainty viands which were brought out in their
honour.

He did not mean to sit in judgment--he scarcely knew that he was
doing so; yet as be watched their deep potations, and marked how
they chose the best portions, and stinted themselves in no good
thing, his stern young mind could not but rise up in revolt, the
more so that these very men were actually here on purpose to strive
to capture a brother of their own order, and deliver him over to
death. And so far as the youth understood the matter, the offence
for which it was resolved he should suffer was that he was too
faithful to the vows he had taken upon himself, and too ardent in
striving to enforce upon others the rules he held binding upon
himself.

But at least if these brothers ate and drank merrily, they were not
therefore the better watchers. They had smiled a little scornfully
as he contrasted their good feeding and deep drinking and
subsequent visible sleepiness with the spare and frugal meal always
taken by Brother Emmanuel, to be followed as often as not by a long
night vigil in the chantry. There was small look of watchfulness
about these men. Any vigil kept by them would be but a mockery of
the term. It was all they could do to stumble through the office of
compline when the meal was ended and the household about to retire,
and there was no suggestion on their part of wishing to remain to
keep vigil.

But Edred resolved that he would watch again that night. He had
done so the previous night with Brother Emmanuel, both thinking
that it might be the last watch they would ever hold together. Now
the boy felt that he could not sleep, at least for many hours; and
since their mother had whispered to them that Brother Fabian was to
share their room, since he said it was his duty to keep watch upon
the boys till next morning, it seemed well to leave his bed for the
drowsy monk, aid keep vigil himself in the silent chantry.

The brother looked puzzled when he heard what one of his young
charges proposed to do. Edred looked him full in the face as he
answered:

"Brother Emmanuel taught us that it were not well that all within
the house should be sleeping. We know not when the Lord may
ap