I owe him a debt which it concerns my honor to pay. It lies not on
your shoulders, however,--" his gravity gave way to his gay smile,--"if it is
more pleasant for you not to enter the city, you may ride back to the hostelry
we passed, and await me in its shelter."
The old cniht's courage was too well approved to require any defence.
Contenting himself with an indignant grunt, he reined back to his place at the
head of the dozen armed servants who formed the Etheling's safeguard, and the
young lord galloped on between the bare fields, humming absently under his
breath.
"Poor bantling!" he was thinking compassionately. "I shall be right glad to
get sight of him again. I hope he will not betray himself in his joy when he
sees me. Anything like showing that one is fond of him is apt to turn him a
little soft."
None of these undercurrents was visible in his face however, when, having left
his escort in one of the outer courts, he stood at last in the parlor of the
Abbey guest-house.
"I am a traveller, reverend brother, journeying from London to Worcester," he
said with grave courtesy to the gaunt black-robed monk who admitted him. "And
my errand hither is to ask refreshment for myself and my men, as we have been
in the saddle since cockcrow."
"The brother whose duty it is to attend upon travellers is at this hour in the
Chapter House, with the rest of the household," the monk made answer.
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