And yet, as thought will not be bound, and the young are ever the most ardent in the pursuit of truth, and the most impatient under the yoke of fetters unwillingly worn, so neither this young monk nor his still more youthful companion could be content to drift on without looking into the stirring questions of the day for themselves.
Edred's mind at this moment was working rapidly and following up a train of thought as fascinating as it was new.

He suddenly turned back to the very beginning of the book, and began reading to himself some words he found there.

Presently he looked up quickly into his instructor's face.
"Thy words about four channels put me in mind of the four streams we read of in the beginning, that watered the garden of the Lord.
It seemed to me as if perchance there was some connection betwixt them--that the Lord's plan has ever been the same.

Surely He led forth the children of Israel through the wilderness beneath four standards.

And here the four streams are all given.