"If he is but half a monk," said the Jester, "he should not be wholly

unreasonable with those whom he meets upon the road, even if they should

be in no hurry to answer questions that no way concern them."

"I forgive thy wit," replied the Abbot, "on condition thou wilt show me

the way to Cedric's mansion."

"Well, then," answered Wamba, "your reverences must hold on this path

till you come to a sunken cross, of which scarce a cubit's length

remains above ground; then take the path to the left, for there are

four which meet at Sunken Cross, and I trust your reverences will obtain

shelter before the storm comes on."

The Abbot thanked his sage adviser; and the cavalcade, setting spurs to

their horses, rode on as men do who wish to reach their inn before the

bursting of a night-storm. As their horses' hoofs died away, Gurth

said to his companion, "If they follow thy wise direction, the reverend

fathers will hardly reach Rotherwood this night."

"No," said the Jester, grinning, "but they may reach Sheffield if they

have good luck, and that is as fit a place for them. I am not so bad a

woodsman as to show the dog where the deer lies, if I have no mind he

should chase him."

"Thou art right," said Gurth; "it were ill that Aymer saw the Lady

Rowena; and it were worse, it may be, for Cedric to quarrel, as is most

likely he would, with this military monk. But, like good servants let us

hear and see, and say nothing."

We return to the riders, who had soon left the bondsmen far behind

them, and who maintained the following conversation in the Norman-French

language, usually employed by the superior classes, with the exception

of the few who were still inclined to boast their Saxon descent.

"What mean these fellows by their capricious insolence?" said the

Templar to the Benedictine, "and why did you prevent me from chastising

it?"

"Marry, brother Brian," replied the Prior, "touching the one of them, it

were hard for me to render a reason for a fool speaking according to his

folly; and the other churl is of that savage, fierce, intractable race,

some of whom, as I have often told you, are still to be found among the

descendants of the conquered Saxons, and whose supreme pleasure it is

to testify, by all means in their power, their aversion to their

conquerors."




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