She did not know whether or not to put these two facts together as connected with each other; but she listened eagerly to all he said on the subject, trying to discover what might be the meaning of this strange leniency of opinion.
"It is different for you, brother--they owe you no grudge," said Joan, with a slight shiver; whilst the farmer broke in roughly: "Tut, tut, Jack! what mean you by trying to make common cause with the ruffians who would have carried your sister off as a prey of that graceless scamp well-called Devil's Own?
I marvel to hear such words from you.

You should know better." "They are not all brutes like Devil's Own," muttered Jack in a low tone; but he did not speak aloud, for the fashion of the day forbade the young to argue with the old, or children to answer back when their parents spoke to them in reproof.
But Paul was still resolved that he would be the messenger to carry to the Priory that day the two fat capons the worthy mistress had in readiness for the prior's table.

They had been bespoken some time, and could be no longer delayed.

Paul was weary of an idle life, and eager to see something of the country in which he found himself.

He was in comfortable quarters enough at the farm; but he was growing stronger each day, and was beginning to fret against the fetters which held him from straying far from the farm.
He did not much believe in the lasting anger of the robber band.