"Methinks it would profit many of our brothers in country places to hear what is being thought and taught in Oxford and London, in all the great centres of the country.

The reverend father knows well what I hold and what I teach." So clear and steadfast was the light in the young monk's eyes, that the regard of the other fell before it.

He made a gesture, as if to repudiate the defence as a thing quite superfluous.
"The piety and orthodoxy of Brother Emmanuel are known far and wide," he answered, in a tone that was half cringing, half spiteful; "no truer son of the Church than he lives in all the land." And then with another salutation he turned and glided away in the lengthening shadows, whilst Edred turned to Brother Emmanuel with rather a scared face, and asked: "Dost think he heard what we were saying ?" "Belike he caught a phrase or two," was the answer, spoken gravely but quite calmly.

"I would not speak words of which I am ashamed; at the same time, it is well in these perilous days to use all caution, for an enemy can well distort and magnify the words he hears, till they sound like rank heresy.

For myself I have no fear.
I prize not my life greatly, though to die as a heretic, cut off from the Church of Christ, is a fearful thing to think of.