In Raymond’s presence others as well as Gaston began to curb some of that bold freedom of speech which has always characterized the stormy career of the soldier.  Those who so curbed themselves scarce knew why they did so.  It was seldom that Raymond spoke any word of rebuke or admonition, and if he did it was only to some youth younger than himself.  But there was something in the direct grave look of his eyes, and in the pure steadfastness of his expression, which gave to his aspect a touch of saintliness quickly felt by those about him.  For in those days men, in spite of many and great faults, were not ashamed of their religion.  Much superstition might be mingled with their beliefs, corruption and impurity were creeping within the fold of the Church, darkness and ignorance prevailed to an extent which it is hard in these times to realize; yet with all this against them, men were deeply and truly loyal to their faith.  It had not entered into their minds that a deep and firm faith in God was a thing of which to be ashamed; that to trust in special providence was childish folly; to receive absolution upon the eve of some great and perilous undertaking a mere empty form, or a device of cunning priestcraft.  It has been the work of a more “enlightened” age to discover all this.  In olden times —­ those despised days of worn-out superstition —­ men yet believed fully and faithfully in their God, and in His beneficent care of His children.  Raymond, then, with his saint-like face and his reputation of piety, together with the story of his residence beneath the care of Father Paul, quickly obtained a certain reputation of his own that made him something of a power; and Gaston felt proud to go about with his brother at his side, and hear the comments passed upon that brother by the comrades he had made in the past years.

During the exciting march through the hostile country Gaston and Raymond had known much more of the feeling of the people than their comrades.  The French tongue was familiar to them, and though they did not speak it as readily as English or their Gascon dialect, they had always known it from childhood, and never had any difficulty in making themselves understood.  Despite their English sympathies and their loyalty to England’s King, they felt much natural compassion for the harried and distracted victims of Edward’s hostile march; and many little acts of protective kindness had been shown by both the brothers (generally at Raymond’s instigation) towards some feeble or miserable person who might otherwise have been left in absolute destitution.  These small acts of kindness won them goodwill wherever they went, and also assisted them to understand the words and ways of the people as they would scarcely have done without.