But we hear no more of any of them later, do we, save the river Euphrates.

Out of the four three seem to have been lost," and the boy raised his eyes with a perplexed expression and looked earnestly at his teacher.
Between those two existed one of those keen bonds of sympathy that often enable persons to communicate their thoughts without the medium of words.

In a moment the monk had read what was in the boy's mind, and in a fashion he answered as though Edred had spoken.
"Thou thinkest that even as some of God's watering rivers ran dry, so some of His channels of grace, whereby He meant all men to be replenished with heavenly light and grace, may perchance have become choked and useless.

Is not that thy thought, my son ?" "My father, is it sin thus to think ?" asked Edred, almost beneath his breath.

"I cannot shut mine eyes and mine ears.