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

eEdricsonbenthisheadwhiletheAbbotpouredouthisheartfeltsupplicationthatHeavenwouldwatchoverthisyoungsoul,nowgoingforthintothedarknessanddangeroftheworld.Itwasnomereformforeitherofthem.Tothemtheoutsidelifeofmankinddidindeedseemtobeoneofviolenceandofsin,besetwithphysicalandstillmorewithspiritualdanger.Heaven,too,wasveryneartotheminthosedays.God'sdirectagencywastobeseeninthethunderandtherainbow,thewhirlwindandthelightning.Tothebeliever,cloudsofangelsandconfessors,andmartyrs,armiesofthesaintedandthesaved,wereeverstoopingovertheirstrugglingbrethrenuponearth,raising,encouraging,andsupportingthem.ItwasthenwithalighterheartandastoutercouragethattheyoungmanturnedfromtheAbbot'sroom,whilethelatter,followinghimtothestair-head,finallycommendedhimtotheprotectionoftheholyJulian,patronoftravellers. Underneath,intheporchoftheAbbey,themonkshadgatheredtogivehimalastGod-speed.Manyhadbroughtsomepartingtokenbywhichheshouldrememberthem.TherewasbrotherBartholomewwithacrucifixofrarecarvedivory,andbrotherLukewithawhite-backedpsalteradornedwithgoldenbees,andbrotherFranciswiththe“SlayingoftheInnocents”mostdaintilysetforthuponvellum.Alltheseweredulypackedawaydeepinthetraveller'sscrip,andabovethemoldpippin-facedbrotherAthanasiushadplacedaparcelofsimnelbreadandrammelcheese,withasmallflaskofthefamousblue-sealedAbbeywine.So,amidhand-shakingsandlaughingsandblessings,AlleyneEdricsonturnedhisbackuponBeaulieu. Attheturnoftheroadhestoppedandgazedback.Therewasthewide-spreadbuildingwhichheknewsowell,theAbbot'shouse,thelongchurch,thecloisterswiththeirlineofarches,allbathedandmellowedintheeveningsun.TheretoowasthebroadsweepoftheriverExe,theoldstonewell,thecanopiednicheoftheVirgin,andinthecentreofalltheclusterofwhite-robedfigureswhowavedtheirhandstohim.Asuddenmistswamupbeforetheyoungman'seyes,andheturnedawayuponhisjourneywithaheavyheartandachokingthroat.