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

.Butletmehear,ereyoustart,whatgiftsyoutakeawaywithyoufromBeaulieu?SomeIalreadyknow.Thereistheplayingofthecitoleandtherebeck.Ourchoirwillbedumbwithoutyou.Youcarvetoo?” Theyouth'spalefaceflushedwiththeprideoftheskilledworkman.“Yes,holyfather,”heanswered.“ThankstogoodbrotherBartholomew,Icarveinwoodandinivory,andcandosomethingalsoinsilverandinbronze.FrombrotherFrancisIhavelearnedtopaintonvellum,onglass,andonmetal,withaknowledgeofthosepigmentsandessenceswhichcanpreservethecoloragainstdamporabitingair.BrotherLukehathgivenmesomeskillindamaskwork,andintheenamellingofshrines,tabernacles,diptychsandtriptychs.Fortherest,Iknowalittleofthemakingofcovers,thecuttingofpreciousstones,andthefashioningofinstruments.” “Agoodlylist,truly,”criedthesuperiorwithasmile.“WhatclerkofCambrigorofOxenfordcouldsayasmuch?Butofthyreading—hastnotsomuchtoshowthere,Ifear?” “No,father,ithathbeenslightenough.Yet,thankstoourgoodchancellor,Iamnotwhollyunlettered.IhavereadOckham,Bradwardine,andotheroftheschoolmen,togetherwiththelearnedDunsScotusandthebookoftheholyAquinas.” “Butofthethingsofthisworld,whathaveyougatheredfromyourreading?FromthishighwindowyoumaycatchaglimpseoverthewoodenpointandthesmokeofBucklershardofthemouthoftheExe,andtheshiningsea.Now,Iprayyou,Alleyne,ifamanweretotakeashipandspreadsailacrossyonderwaters,wheremighthehopetoarrive?” Theyouthpondered,anddrewaplanamongsttherusheswiththepointofhisstaff.“Holyfather,”saidhe,“hewouldcomeuponthosepartsofFrancewhichareheldbytheKing'sMajesty.ButifhetrendedtothesouthhemightreachSpainandtheBarbaryStates.TohisnorthwouldbeFlandersandthecountryoftheEastlandersandoftheMuscovites.” “True.Andhowif,afterreachingtheKing'spossessions,hestilljourneyedontotheeastward?” “HewouldthencomeuponthatpartofFrancewhichisstillindispute,andhemighthopetoreachthefamouscityofAvignon,wheredwellsourblessedfather,the