I understand not rightly these matters; but I saw that yesterday upon his face which showed me that he felt he stood something in peril, albeit he has no fear.
He is not of the stuff of which cowards are made." Julian's eyes were wide with affright.
"They say the Lollards and heretics are to be sought out and burned, and that right soon," he said, in low, awe-struck tones.
"Some of our people heard it today from those at Mortimer.

The Lord of Mortimer has become very zealous to help the priests and monks to scent out all suspected of heresy and make a great example of them.
"Edred, thou dost not think they will take Brother Emmanuel--and--burn--him ?" The last words were little more than a whisper.
"I will die sooner than see it done!" cried the boy passionately.
"But in these days no man may say who is safe.

Therefore went I up to the chamber this very day to set it in order;" and then he told his brothers of the difficulty that had beset him there, and how he felt no security for any person in hiding there so long as the difficulty of conveying water to him remained so great.
Bertram grasped the situation in a moment.

He well knew that if any person were suspected of lying hidden in the house, a close watch might well be kept upon every member of the household, and that it might be hard indeed to pay more than a very occasional visit to the prisoner.

If, for instance, suspicion were to fall upon the boys in this matter, it would be probable they would be placed under some restraint; they might be carried off to the priory and forced to do some penance there.