cal on
both sides of the border, save for the lowland Scotch bonnet.

On his return, he found that Lord Percy had sent for him during his
absence, and he at once went to his apartments.

"I have been thinking over this matter further," Sir Henry said. "The
abbot came in, just as you left me; and, among other things, he
mentioned that friar Roger had again fallen into disgrace, having gone
so far as to strike the sub-prior on the cheek, almost breaking the jaw
of that worthy man; and that, finding discipline and punishment of no
avail with him, he was about to expel him, in disgrace, from the
community. He said that he had only retained him so long on account of
my goodwill for the fellow, and from the fact that he would, as I had
often urged, be most valuable as leader of the abbot's forces, in case
of troubles with the Scots, but that his last offence has passed all
bearing.

"For the time I could say nothing, for discipline must be maintained,
in a monastery as well as in the castle; but after the abbot had left
me, and I was walking up and down in vexation over the affair--for I
like the rascal, in spite of his ways, and there is no one else who
could so well lead the contingent of the monastery--a thought occurred
to me. I like not your going altogether alone, for the times are
lawless, and you might meet trouble on the road; and yet I did not see
whom I could send with you. Now it seems to me that this stout knave
would make an excellent companion for you.

"In the first place, you like him, and he likes you; secondly, a monk
travelling north on a mission, say from the abbot to the prior of a
monastery near Dunbar, could pass anywhere unheeded; and in the third
place, although as a peaceful man he could carry no military arms, he
might yet take with him a staff, with which I warrant me he would be a
match for two or three ordinary men; and lastly, I may be able to
convince the abbot that he can thus get rid of him from the monastery,
for some time, and avoid the scandals he occasions, and yet hold him
available on his return for military service.

"What say you, lad?"

"I should like it much, Sir Henry. I could wish for no stouter
companion; and although he may be quarrelsome with his fellows, it is,
methinks, solely because the discipline of the monastery frets him, and
he longs for a more active life; but I believe that he could be fully
trusted to behave himself discreetly, were he engaged in outdoor work