第4章

Anyway,IwasgladIwasnotdead,fornowthatallwasoverI

trembledandfeltafraid,whichIhadneverdoneduringthefighting,evenwhenmyhourseemedverynear。

Lastlytherewasthishigh—bornlady,BlancheAleys,withwhomfortunehadthrownmesostrangelythatday。Thoseblueeyesofhershadpiercedmyheartlikedarts,anddowhatIwouldImightnotridmymindofthethoughtofher,ormyearsofthesoundofhersoftvoice,whileherkissesseemedstilltoburnuponmylips。ItwrungmetothinkthatperhapsIshouldneverseeheragain,orthatifIdidI

mightnotspeakwithher,beingsofarbeneathherincondition,andhavingalreadyearnedthewrathofherfather,and,asIguessed,thejealousyofthatscentedcousinofherswhomtheysaidtheKinglovedlikeabrother。

Whathadmymothertoldme？ToleavethisplaceandgotoLondon,theretofindmyuncle,JohnGrimmer,goldsmithandmerchant,whowasmygodfather,andtoaskhimtotakemeintohisbusiness。I

rememberedthisuncleofmine,forsomesevenoreightyearsbefore,whenIwasagrowinglad,becausetherewasaplagueinLondonhehadcomedowntoHastingstovisitus。Heonlystayedaweek,however,becausehesaidthattheseaairtieduphisstomachandthathewouldratherrisktheplaguewithagoodstomachthanleaveitbehindhimwithabadone——thoughIthinkitwashisbusinesshethoughtof,nothisstomach。

Hewasastrangeoldman,notunlikemymother,butwithanosemorehooked,smalldarkeyes,andabaldheadonwhichhesetacapofvelvet。Evenintheheatofsummerhewasalwayscoldandworeafrayedfurrobe,complainingmuchifhecameintoadraughtofair。

IndeedhelookedlikeaJew,thoughagoodChristianenough,andlaughedaboutit,becausehesaidthatthisappearanceofhisservedhimwellinhistrade,sinceJewswerealwaysfeared,anditwasheldtobeimpossibletooverreachthem。

FortherestIonlyrecalledthatheexaminedmeastomybooklearningwhichdidnotsatisfyhim,andwentaboutvaluingallourgoodsandfishing—boats,showingmymotherhowwewerebeingcheatedandmightearnmorethanwedid。WhenhedepartedhegavemeagoldpieceandsaidthatLifewasnothingbutvanity,andthatImustprayforhissoulwhenhewasdeadashewassureitwouldneedsuchhelp,alsothatIoughttoputthegoldpieceouttointerest。ThisIdidbybuyingwithitacertainfiercemastiffdogIcovetedthathadbeenbroughtonashipfromNorway,whichdogbitsomegreatmaninourtown,whohauledmymotherbeforethebailiffaboutitandcausedthepoorbeasttobekilled,tomygreatwrath。

NowthatIcametothinkofit,IhadlikedmyUncleJohnwellenoughalthoughhewassodifferentfromothers。WhyshouldInotgotohim？

BecauseIdidnotwishtositinashopinLondon,Iwholovedtheseaandtheopenair;alsobecauseIfearedhemightaskmewhatIhaddonewiththatgoldpieceandmakeamockofmeaboutthedog。Yetmymotherhadbiddenmego,anditwasherlastcommandtome,herdyingwordswhichitwouldbeunluckytodisobey。Moreover,ourboatsandhousewereburntandImustworkhardandlongbeforethesecouldbereplaced。Lastly,inLondonIshouldseenomoreoftheladyBlancheAleys,andtherecouldlearntoforgetthelightsinherblueeyes。SoIdeterminedthatIwouldgo,andatlastfellasleep。

NextmorningImademyconfessiontotheoldpriestthat,amongstothermatters,hemightshrivemeofthebloodwhichIhadshed,thoughthishesaidneedednoforgivenessfromGodorman,being,asI

think,astoutEnglishmanatheart。AlsoItookcounselwithhimastowhatIshoulddo,andhetoldmeitwasmydutytoobeymymother"swishes,sincesuchlastwordswereofteninspiredfromonhighanddeclaredthewillofHeaven。FurtherhepointedoutthatIshoulddowelltoavoidtheladyBlancheAleyswhowasonefarabovemeindegree,thefollowingofwhommightbringmetotrouble,oreventodeath;moreover,thatImightmendmybrokenfortunesthroughthehelpofmyuncle,averyrichmanashehadheard,towhomhewouldwritealetteraboutme。

Thusthismatterwassettled。

StillsomedayswentbybeforeIleftHastings,sincefirstImustwaituntiltheashesofourhousewerecoolenoughtosearchinthemformymother"sbody。Thosewhofoundheratlengthsaidthatshewasnotsomuchburnedasmighthavebeenexpected,butastothisIamuncertain,sinceIcouldnotbringmyselftolookuponherwhodesiredtorememberherasshehadbeeninlife。Shewasburiedbythesideofmyfather,whowasdrowned,inthechurchyardofSt。Clement"s,andwhenallhadgoneawayIweptalittleonhergrave。

TherestofthatdayIspentmakingreadyformyjourney。Asitchancedwhenthehousewasburnttheoutbuildingswhichlayonthefarthersideoftheyardbehindescapedthefire,andinthestableweretwogoodhorses,oneagreyriding—geldingandtheotheramarethatusedtodragthenetstothequayandbringbackthefish,whichhorses,althoughfrightenedandalarmed,wereunharmed。Alsotherewasaquantityofstores,nets,salt,driedfishinbarrels,andIknownotwhatbesides。ThehorsesIkept,butalltherestofthegear,togetherwiththepremises,thegroundonwhichthehousehadstood,andtheotherpropertyImadeovertoWilliam,myman,whopromisedmetopaymetheirvaluewhenhecouldearnitinbettertimes。

NextmorningIrodeawayforLondonuponthegreyhorse,loadingthearmouroftheknightIhadkilledandsuchotherpossessionsasremainedtomeuponthemarewhichIledwitharope。SaveWilliamtherewasnonetosaymegood—bye,forthemiseryinHastingswassogreatthatallwereconcernedwiththeirownaffairsorinmourningtheirdead。Iwasnotsorrythatitfelloutthus,sinceIwassofullofsadnessatleavingtheplacewhereIwasbornandhadlivedallmylife,thatIthinkIshouldhaveshedtearsifanywhohadbeenmyfriendshadspokenkindwordstome,whichwouldhavebeenunmanly。

NeverhadIfeltsolonelyaswhenfromthehighgroundIgazedbacktotheruinsofHastingsoverwhichstillhungathinpallofsmoke。

Mycourageseemedtofailmealtogether;Ilookedforwardtothefuturewithfear,believingthatIhadbeenbornunlucky,thatitheldnogoodformewhoprobablyshouldendmydaysasacommonsoldierorafisherman,ormayhapinprisonoronthegallows。FromchildhoodI

hadsufferedthesefitsofgloom,butasyetthiswastheblackestofthemthatIhadknown。

Atlength,thesunthathadbeenhiddenshoneoutandwithitscomingmytemperchanged。IrememberedthatIwhomightsoeasilyhavebeendead,wassound,young,andhealthy,thatIhadsword,bow,andarmourofthebest,alsotwentyormoreofgoldpieces,forIhadnotcountedthem,inthebagwhichmymothergavemewithWave—Flame。Further,I

hopedthatmyunclewouldbefriendme,andifhedidnot,therewereplentyofcaptainsengagedinthewarswhomightbegladofasquire,onewhocouldshootagainstanymanandhandleaswordaswellasmost。

SoputtingupaprayertoSt。Hubertaftermysimplefashion,Ipushedonblithelytothecrestofalongriseandtherecamefacetofacewithagaycompanywho,hawkonwristandhoundatheel,were,I

guessed,ontheirwaytohuntinthePevenseymarshes。WhiletheywerestillalittlewayoffIknewthesetobenootherthanSirRobertAleys,hisdaughterBlanche,andtheKing"sfavourite,youngLordDeleroy,withtheirservants,andwasmindedtoturnasidetoavoidthem。ThenIrememberedthatIhadasmuchrighttotheKing"sHighwayasthey,andmyprideaidingme,determinedtorideontakingnonoteofthem,unlessfirsttheytooknoteofme。Alsotheyknewme,formyearsbeingverysharp,IheardSirRobertsayinhisbigvoice:

"Herecomesthatyoungfishermanagain。Passhiminsilence,Daughter";heard,too,LordDeleroydrawlit,"Itseemsthathehasbeengatheringgearfromtheslain,andlikeagoodchapmanbearsitawayforsecretsale。"

OnlytheladyBlancheansweredneithertheonenortheother,butrodeforwardwithhereyesfixedbeforeher,pretendingtotalktothehawkuponherwrist,andnowthatshewasrestedandatease,lookingevenmorebeautifulthanshehaddoneonthedayoftheburning。

Sowemetandpassed,Iglancingatthemidlyandguidingmyhorsestothesideoftheroad。WhentherewereperhapstenyardsbetweenusI

heardLadyBlanchecry:

"Oh,myhawk！"Ilookedroundtoseethatthefalcononherwristhadinsomewaylooseditself,orbeenloosed,andbeinghooded,hadfallentothegroundwhereoneofthedogswastryingtocatchandkillit。Nowtherewasgreatconfusion,theeyesofallbeingfixeduponthehawkandthedog,inthemidstofwhichtheladyBlancheveryquietlyturnedherhead,andliftingherhandasthoughtoseehowthehawkhadfallenfromit,withaswiftmovementlaidherfingersagainstherlipsandthrewakisstome。

AsswiftlyIbowedbackandwentonmywaywithabeatingheart。ForafewmomentsIwasfilledwithjoy,sinceIcouldnotmistakethemeaningofthissignalledkiss。ThencamesorrowlikeanAprilcloud,sincemywoundwhichwasinthewayofhealingwasallre—opened。I

hadbeguntoforgettheladyBlanche,orratherbyaneffortofthewill,tothrustherfrommythought,asmyconfessorhadbiddenme。

Butnowonthewingsofthatblownkissthithershehadflownbackagain,nottobefrightedoutformanyaday。

ThatnightIsleptataninnatTonbridge,acomfortableplacewherethehoststaredatthegoldpiecefromthebagwhichItenderedinpayment,andatfirstwouldnottakewhatwasduetohimoutofit,becauseitboretheheadofsomeancientking。However,intheendamerchantofTonbridgewhocameinforhismorningaleshowedhimthatitwasgood,sothattroublepassed。

AbouttwointheafternoonIcametoSouthwark,atownthattomeseemedasbigasHastingsbeforeitwasburned,wherewasafineinncalledtheTabardatwhichIstoppedtobaitmyhorsesandtotakeabiteanddrinkofale。ThenIrodeonoverthegreatThameswherefloatedamultitudeofshipsandboats,crossingitbyLondonBridge,aworksowonderfulthatImarvelledthatitcouldbemadebythehandofman,andsobroadthatithadshopsoneithersideoftheroadway,inwhichweresoldallsortsofmerchandise。ThenceIinquiredmywaytoCheapside,andcamethereatlastthrustingapaththrougharoaringmultitudeofpeople,orsoitseemedtomewhoneverbeforehadseensomanymenandwomengatheredtogether,allgoingontheirwayand,itwouldappear,ignorantofeachother。

HereIfoundalongandcrowdedthoroughfarewithgabledhousesoneithersideinwhichallkindsoftradeswerecarriedon。DownthisI

wandered,beingcursedatmorethanoncebecausemypackmare,growingfrightened,draggedawayfrommeandcrossedthepathofcartswhichhadtostoptillIcouldpullherfree。AfterthethirdofthesetanglesIhaltedbythesideofthefootwaybehindawainwithbarrelsonit,andlookedaboutmebewildered。

Tomyleftwasahousesomewhatsetbackfromthegenerallinethathadalittlepatchofgardengroundinfrontofitinwhichgrewsomeuntendedandthriftless—lookingshrubs。Thishouseseemedtobeaplaceofbusinessbecausefromanironfastenedtothefrontofithungaboardonwhichwaspaintedanopenboat,highattheprowandstern,withatallbeakfashionedtothelikenessofadragon"sheadandroundshieldsalldowntherail。

WhileIwasstaringatthissignandwonderingemptilywhatkindofaboatitwasandofwhatnationwerethefolkwhohadsailedinher,amancamedownthegardenpathandleaneduponthegate,staringinturnatme。Hewasoldandstrange—looking,beingcladinarustygownwithahoodtoitthatwaspulledoverhishead,sothatIcouldonlyseeawhite,peakedbeardandapairofbrilliantblackeyeswhichseemedtopiercemeasashoemaker"sawlpiercesleather。

"Whatdoyou,youngman,"heaskedinahighthinvoice,"cumberingmygatewiththosenagsofyours？Wouldyousellthatmailyouhaveonthepack—horse？IfsoIdonotdealinsuchstuff,thoughitseemsgoodofitskind。Sogetonwithitelsewhere。"

"Nay,sir,"Ianswered,"Ihavenaughttosellwhointhishiveoftradersseekonebeeandcannotfindhim。"

"Hiveoftraders！TrulythegreatmerchantsoftheCheapwouldbehonoured。Havetheystungyou,then,already,youngbumpkinfromthecountryside,forsuchIwriteyoudown？Butwhatbeedoyouseek？

Stay,now,letmeguess。IsitacertainoldknavenamedJohnGrimmer,whotradesingoldandjewelsandotherpreciousthingsandwho,ifhehadhisdeserts,shouldbejail？"

"Aye,aye,that"stheman,"Isaid。

"Surelyhealsowillbehonoured,"exclaimedtheoldfellowwithacackle。"He"safriendofmineandIwilltellhimthejest。"

"Ifyouwouldtellmewheretofindhimitwouldbemoreseasonable。"

"Allingoodtime。Butfirst,youngsir,wheredidyougetthatfinearmour？Ifyoustoleit,itshouldbebetterhid。"

"Stoleit！"Ibeganinwrath。"AmIaLondonchapman————？"

"Ithinknot,thoughyoumaybebeforeallisdone,forwhoknowswhatviletricksFortunewillplayus？Well,ifyoudidnotstealit,mayhapyouslewthewearerandareamurderer,forIseeblackbloodonthesteel。"

"Murderer！"Igasped。

"Aye,justasyousayJohnGrimmerisaknave。Butifnot,thenperchanceyouslewtheFrenchknightwhoworeitonHastingsHill,ereyouloosedthethreearrowsatthemouthofthecavenearMinnesRock。"

NowIgapedathim。

"Shutyourmouth,youngman,lestthoseteethofyoursshouldfallout。YouwonderhowIknow？Well,myfriendJohnGrimmer,thegoldsmithknave,hasamagiccrystalwhichhepurchasedfromonewhobroughtitfromtheEast,andIsawitinthatcrystal。"

Ashespoke,asthoughbychancehepushedbackthehoodthatcoveredhishead,revealingawrinkledoldfacewithamockingmouthwhichdroopedatonecorner,amouththatIknewagain,althoughmanyyearshadpassedsinceIlookeduponitasaboy。

"YouareJohnGrimmer！"Imuttered。

"Yes,HubertofHastings,Iamthatknavehimself。Andnowtellme,whatdidyoudowiththegoldpieceIgaveyousometwelvesummersgone？"

ThenIwasmindedtolie,forIfearedthisoldman。Butthinkingbetterofit,IansweredthatIhadspentitonadog。Helaughedoutrightandsaid:

"Praythatitisnotanomenandthatyoumaynotfollowthegoldpiecetothedogs。Well,Ilikeyouforspeakingthetruthwhenyouaretemptedtodootherwise。WillyoubepleasedtoshelterforawhilebeneaththeroofofJohnGrimmer,themerchantknave？"

"Youmockme,sir,"Istammered。

"Perhaps,perhaps！Butthere"smanyatruewordspokeninjest;forifyoudonotknowitnowyouwilllearnitafterwardsthatweareallknaves,eachinhisownfashion,whoifwedonotdeceiveothers,atleastdeceiveourselves,andIperhapsmorethanmost。Vanityofvanities！Allisvanity。"

Then,waitingfornoreply,hedrewasilverwhistlefromunderhisdustyrobeandblewit,whereon——soswiftlythatImarvelledwhetherhewerewaiting——astout—builtservingmanappearedtowhomhesaid:

"Takethesehorsestothestableandtreatthemasthoughtheyweremyown。Unloadthepackbeast,andwhenithasbeencleaned,setthemailandtheothergearuponitintheroomthathasbeenmadereadyforthisyoungmaster,HubertofHastings,mynephew。"

Withoutawordthemanledoffthehorses。

"Benotafraid,"chuckledJohnGrimmer,"forthoughIamaknave,dogdoesnoteatdogandwhatisyoursissafewithmeandthosewhoserveme。Nowenter,"andheledthewayintothehouse,openingtheiron—

studdedoakdoorwithakeyfromhispouch。

WithinwasashopwhereIsawpreciousthingssuchasfursandgoldornamentslyingabout。

"Thecrumbstocatchthebirds,especiallytheladybirds,"hesaidwithasweepofhishand,thentookmethroughtheshopintoapassageandthencetoaroomontheright。ItwasnotalargeroombutmorewonderfullyfurnishedthananyIhadeverseen。Inthecentrewasatableofblackoakwithcunninglycarvedlegs,onwhichstoodcupsofsilverandanoblecentrepiecethatseemedtobeofgold。Fromtheceiling,too,hungsilverlampsthatalreadyhadbeenlit,fortheeveningwasclosingin,andgaveasweetsmell。Therewasahearthalsowithwhatwasrare,achimney,uponwhichburnedalittlefireoflogs,whilethewallswerehungwithtapestriesandbroideredsilks。

WhilstIstaredaboutme,myuncletookoffhiscloakbeneathwhichhewasclothedinsomerichbutratherthreadbarestuff,onlyretainingthevelvetskullcapthathewore。Thenhebademedothesame,andwhenIhadlaidmyoutergarmentaside,lookedmealloverinthelamplight。

"Aproperyoungman,"hemutteredtohimself,"andI"dgiveallIhavetobehisageandlikehim。Isupposethoselimbsandsinewsofhiscamefromhisfather,forIwaseverthinandspare,aswasmyfatherbeforeme。NephewHubert,IhaveheardallthetaleofyourdealingswiththeFrenchmen,onwhombeGod"scurse,atHastingsyonder;andI

saythatIamproudofyou,thoughwhetherIshallstaysoisanothermatter。Comehither。"

Iobeyed,andtakingmebymycurlinghairwithhisdelicatehand,hedrewdownmyheadandkissedmeonthebrow,muttering,"Neitherchicknorchildformeandonlythisoneleftoftheancientblood。Mayhedoithonour。"

Thenhemotionedtometobeseatedandrangalittlesilverbellthatstooduponthetable。Asinthecaseofthemanwithout,itwasansweredinstantlyfromwhichIjudgedthatMasterGrimmerwaswellserved。Beforetheechoesofthebelldiedawayadooropened,thetapestryswungaside,andthereappearedtwomostcomelyservingmaids,tallandwell—shapedbothofthem,bearingfood。

"Prettywomen,Nephew,nowonderthatyoulookatthem,"hesaidwhentheyhadgoneawaytofetchotherthings,"suchasIliketohaveaboutmealthoughIamold。Womenforwithinandmenforwithout,thatisNature"slaw,andillwillbethedaywhenitischanged。Yetbewareofprettywomen,Nephew,andIprayyoukissnotthoseasyoudidtheladyBlancheAleysatHastings,lestitshouldupsetmyhouseholdandturnservantsintomistresses。"

Imadenoanswer,beingconfoundedbytheknowledgethatmyuncleshowedofmeandmyaffairs,whichafterwardsIdiscoveredhehad,inpartatanyrate,fromtheoldpriest,myconfessor,whohadwrittentocommendmetohim,tellingmystoryandsendingtheletterbyaKing"smessenger,wholeftforLondononthemorrowoftheBurning。

Nordidhewaitforany,forhebademesitdownandeat,plyingmewithmoremeatsthanIcouldswallow,allmostdelicatelydressed,alsowithrarewinessuchasIhadnevertasted,whichhetookfromacupboardwheretheywerekeptincuriousflasksofglass。YetasI

noted,himselfheatebutlittle,onlypickingatthebreastofafowlanddrinkingbutthehalfofasmallsilvergobletfilledwithwine。

"Appetite,likeallothergoodthings,fortheyoung,"hesaidwithasighashewatchedmyheartyfeasting。"Yetremember,Nephew,thatifyoulivetoreachit,adaywillcomewhenyourswillbeasmineis。

Vanityofvanities,saiththepreacher,allisvanity！"

Atlength,whenIcouldeatnomore,againherangthesilverbellandthosefairwaitinggirlsdressedalikeingreenappearedandclearedawaythebrokenmeats。Aftertheyweregonehecrouchedoverthefirerubbinghisthinhandstowarmthem,andsaidsuddenly:

"Nowtellmeofmysister"sdeathandalltherestofyourtale。"

SoaswellasIwasableItoldhimeverythingfromthehourwhenI

hadfirstsightedtheFrenchfleetonboardmyfishing—boattotheend。

"Youarenofool,"hesaidwhenIhadfinished,"whocantalklikeanyclerkandbringthingsthathavehappenedclearlytothelistener"seye,whichIhavenotedfewareabletodo。Sothat"sthestory。Well,yourmotherhadagreatheart,andshemadeagreatend,suchanoneaswaslovedofournorthernrace,andthatevenI,theoldmerchantknave,desireandshallnotwin,whodoubtlessamdoomedtodieacow"sdeathinthestraw。PraytheAll—FatherOdin——nay,thatisheresyforwhichImightburnifyouorthewenchestoldittothepriests——prayGod,Imean,thatHemaygrantyouabetter,asHedidtooldThorgrimmer,ifthetalebetrue,Thorgrimmerwhoseswordyouwearandhavewieldedshrewdly,asthatFrenchknightknowsinhellto—day。"

"WhowasOdin？"Iasked。

"ThegreatgodoftheNorth。Didnotyourmothertellyouofhim？Nay,doubtlessshewastoogoodaChristian。Yetheliveson,Nephew。IsaythatOdinlivesinthebloodofeveryfightingman,asFreyalivesintheheartofeveryladandgirlwholoves。Thegodschangetheirnames,buthush！hush！talknotofOdinandofFreya,forIsaythatitisheresy,orpagan,whichisworse。Whatwouldyoudonow？WhycameyoutoLondon？"

"Becausemymotherbademeandtoseekmyfortune。"

"Fortune——whatisfortune？Youthandhealtharethebestfortune,though,iftheyknowhowtouseit,thosewhohavewealthaswellmaygofurtherthantherest。Alsobeauteousthingsarepleasanttothesightandthereisjoyingatheringthem。Yetatthelasttheymeannothing,fornakedwecameoutoftheblacknessandnakedwereturnthere。Vanityofvanities,allisvanity！"

CHAPTERIV

KARI

ThusbeganmylifeinLondoninthehouseofmyuncle,JohnGrimmer,whowascalledtheGoldsmith。Intruth,however,hewasmorethanthis,sincenotonlydidhefashionandtradeincostlythings;helentoutmoneystointerestuponsecuritytogreatpeoplewhoneededit,andeventothekingRichardandhisCourt。AlsoheownedshipsanddidmuchcommercewithHolland,France,yes,andwithSpainandItaly。Indeed,althoughheappearedsohumble,hiswealthwasverylargeandalwaysincreased,likeasnowballrollingdownahill;

moreover,heownedmuchland,especiallyintheneighbourhoodofLondonwhereitwaslikelytogrowinvalue。

"Moneymelts,"hewouldsay,"furscorruptwithmothandtime,andthievesbreakinandsteal。Butland——ifthetitlebegood——remains。

Thereforebuyland,whichnonecancarryaway,neartoamarketoragrowingtownifmaybe,andhireitouttofoolstofarm,orsellittootherfoolswhowishtobuildgreathousesandspendtheirgoodsinfeedingamultitudeofidleservants。Houseseat,Hubert,andthelargertheyare,themoretheyeat。"

Noworddidhesaytomeastomydwellingonwithhim,yetthereI

remained,bycommonconsent,asitwere。IndeedonthemorrowofmycomingatailorappearedtomeasuremeforsuchgarmentsashethoughtIshouldwear,byhiscommand,Isuppose,asIwasneveraskedforpayment,andhebademefurnishmychambertomyownliking,alsoanotherroomatthebackofthehousethatwasmuchlargerthanitseemed,whichhetoldmewastobeminetoworkin,thoughatwhatI

wastoworkhedidnotsay。

ForadayortwoIremainedidle,staringatthesightsofLondonandonlymeetingmyuncleatmealswhichsometimesweatealoneandsometimesinthecompanyofsea—captainsandlearnedclerksorofothermerchants,allofwhomtreatedhimwithgreatdeferenceandasI

soonguessed,wereintruthhisservants。Atnight,however,wewerealwaysaloneandthenhewouldpourouthiswisdomonmewhileI

listened,sayinglittle。Onthesixthday,growingwearyofthisidleness,ImadeboldtoaskhimiftherewasaughtthatIcoulddo。

"Aye,plentyifyouhaveamindtowork,"heanswered。"Sitdownnow,andtakepenandpaperandwritewhatIshalltellyou。"

ThenhedictatedashortlettertomeastoshippingwinefromSpain,andwhenitwassanded,readitcarefully。

"Youhaveitright,"hesaid,seemingpleased,"andyourscriptisclearifboyish。TheytaughtyounonesoillyonderatHastingswhereIthoughtyouhadonlylearnedtohandleropesandarrows。Work？Yes,thereisplentyofitofthemoreprivatesortwhichIdonotgivetothisscribeortothatwhomightbetraymysecrets。Forknow,"hewentoninasternvoice,"thereisonethingwhichIneverpardon,anditisbetrayal。Rememberthat,nephewHubert,eveninthearmsofyourloves,ifyoushouldbefoolenoughtoseekthem,orinyourcups。"

Sohetalkedon,andwhilehedidsowenttoanironchestthatheunlocked,andthencedrewoutaparchmentrollwhichhebademetaketomyworkroomandcopythere。Ididso,andfoundthatitwasaninventoryofhisgoodsandestates,andoh！beforeIhaddoneIwishedthattherewerefewerofthem。AllthelongdayIlaboured,onlystoppingforabiteatnoon,tillmyheadswamandmyfingersached。

YetasIdidsoIfeltproud,forIguessedthatmyunclehadsetmethistaskfortworeasons:first,toshowhistrustinme,and,secondly,toacquaintmewiththestateofhispossessions,butasitwereinthewayofbusiness。BynightfallIhadfinishedandcheckedthecopywhichwiththeoriginalIhidinmyrobewhenthegreen—robedwaitingmaidsummonedmetoeat。