As he came back to the screens he heard a step going up and down in the hall, and on looking in met his father face to face.

The old man had his hat on his head, but no cloak on his shoulders, though even with the fire the place was cold.

It was plain that he had been walking up and down to warm himself.

Robin could not make out his face very well, as he stood with his back to a torch.
"Where have you been, my lad ?" "I went to meet Anthony at one of the Dethick farms, sir--John Merton's." "You met no one else ?" "Yes, sir; Mr.Thomas FitzHerbert was there and dined with us.

He rode with us, too, a little way." And then as he was on the point of speaking of the priest, he stopped himself; and in an instant knew that never again must he speak of a priest to his father; his father had already lost his right to that.