CHAPTER II. HOW ALLEYNE EDRICSON CAME OUT INTO THE WORLD.

stampedwiththeimageofOurLadyofRocamadour. “Artready,then,fairson?”saidtheAbbot.“Thisisindeedadayofcomingsandofgoings.ItisstrangethatinonetwelvehourstheAbbeyshouldhavecastoffitsfoulestweedandshouldnowlosewhatwearefaintolookuponasourchoicestblossom.” “Youspeaktookindly,father,”theyouthanswered.“IfIhadmywillIshouldnevergoforth,butshouldendmydayshereinBeaulieu.Ithathbeenmyhomeasfarbackasmymindcancarryme,anditisasorethingformetohavetoleaveit.” “Lifebringsmanyacross,”saidtheAbbotgently.“Whoiswithoutthem?Yourgoingforthisagrieftousaswellastoyourself.Butthereisnohelp.Ihadgivenmyforewordandsacredpromisetoyourfather,EdrictheFranklin,thatattheageoftwentyyoushouldbesentoutintotheworldtoseeforyourselfhowyoulikedthesavorofit.Seattheeuponthesettle,Alleyne,foryoumayneedresterelong.” Theyouthsatdownasdirected,butreluctantlyandwithdiffidence.TheAbbotstoodbythenarrowwindow,andhislongblackshadowfellslantwiseacrosstherush-strewnfloor. “Twentyyearsago,”hesaid,“yourfather,theFranklinofMinstead,died,leavingtotheAbbeythreehidesofrichlandinthehundredofMalwood,andleavingtousalsohisinfantsononconditionthatweshouldrearhimuntilhecametoman'sestate.Thishedidpartlybecauseyourmotherwasdead,andpartlybecauseyourelderbrother,nowSocmanofMinstead,hadalreadygivensignofthatfierceandrudenaturewhichwouldmakehimnofitcompanionforyou.Itwashisdesireandrequest,however,thatyoushouldnotremaininthecloisters,butshouldataripeagereturnintotheworld.” “But,father,”interruptedtheyoungman,“itissurelytruethatIamalreadyadvancedseveraldegreesinclerkship?” “Yes,fairson,butnotsofarastobaryoufromthegarbyounowwearorthelifewhichyoumustnowlead.Youhavebeenporter?” “Yes,father.” “Exorcist?” “Yes,father.” “Reader?” “Yes,father.” “Acolyte?” “Yes,father.” “Buthaveswornnovowofconstancyorchastity?” “No,father.” “Thenyouarefreetofollowaworldlylife