iory, with the intention of seeking Father Elphege, and p

re could not be a duty clearer to Christians of that strange epoch than to fight with each other whenso

n that the good father w

th the venerable figure of the patron saint bending ove

k, but the man re

fred of Aescendu

am

mbs are saved the toil of seeking thee, and

king

rnestly, and adjured me to fetch thee without

he lad; had he heard of the quarrel, throug

e saved the trouble of ma

n square of grass, enclosed by the quadrangle, wherein reposed in peace the monks of former generations. Once the thought flashed over him, tha

staircase and entered

soon? Sooth to say, m

t outside the

sing of heav

u sent for me, an

a sad confession to make--one it will harrow thy blood to

as he injured me? He i

our oppressors; he is an old serf of thy h

them in secret, and when the

me; it

e should come here to ask forgiveness? 'Twa

not the matter he

is it,

d; now be composed; you must r

and end this suspe

wanted to prepare thee; b

ch divided his soul with hatred to the Normans was love for the m

cy and firmness--thou qu

ght amiss in my

ou ever s

hought away, as thoug

ilt know now, and God hel

ped up by cushions, lay the attenuated form of a dying man--the death sweat already on h

t he had but a short time to live. The good monk, who was supporting him and breath

s place, and supported t

m upon his arm, "Wilfred of Aesc

groaned--such a

forgive me

ve the

son, and ease th

s and sighs, which we must needs omit as we piece h

trusted to his mercy and borne my fitting punishment; but, as Satan tempted me, I fled to the great city, where men are crowded together thick as bees in swarm

magic arts and in compounding of deadly drugs to slay, or medicines to make alive. I became his servant, for I had nought else to do, and I blew his

most Englishmen of his day, confounded all such researches

ted--"but it was a Norman fiend,

xclaimed, as he

lt soon hear," said Father E

ecess hidden from the rest of the room by a curtain, which happened to

it will be very costly--men must pay dea

but an obstacle which I w

strange plants in far-off Araby; I may never r

ew, that it possesses all the qualities thou hast said. If

ine and die within the half of a year; in half that

shall detec

lts are they all), and they shall call it a natural death

t thee; here

escended the stairs, calling for me. I managed to reach him without raising his suspicion,

nd learn w

to his lodging--it was the

sweet and good a lady as she had ever been. But at length disease--an incurable disease--seized me, and the dread of approaching death and judgment has brou

ould be the sig

d, although colourless, impar

ace in his hands

ive me?" said t

e saved her, yet I

nd she was my liege lady,

father! who shall do justice

blood, and do justice on the murderer. Listen, Wilfr

married them; but he, too, is

f this most unhappy but penitent Beorn, and the bishop will hear thee, and justice shall yet be done. But thou must depart at once, or he will have left the city. I will give thee food, and my palfrey shall be at thy service in

had gone from him--Etienne, Pierre, and the rest were forgotten--he was absorbed in the thought