“Thy words about four channels put me in mind of the four streams we read of in the beginning, that watered the garden of the Lord.  It seemed to me as if perchance there was some connection betwixt them—­that the Lord’s plan has ever been the same.  Surely He led forth the children of Israel through the wilderness beneath four standards.  And here the four streams are all given.  But we hear no more of any of them later, do we, save the river Euphrates.  Out of the four three seem to have been lost,” and the boy raised his eyes with a perplexed expression and looked earnestly at his teacher.

Between those two existed one of those keen bonds of sympathy that often enable persons to communicate their thoughts without the medium of words.  In a moment the monk had read what was in the boy’s mind, and in a fashion he answered as though Edred had spoken.

“Thou thinkest that even as some of God’s watering rivers ran dry, so some of His channels of grace, whereby He meant all men to be replenished with heavenly light and grace, may perchance have become choked and useless.  Is not that thy thought, my son?”

“My father, is it sin thus to think?” asked Edred, almost beneath his breath.  “I cannot shut mine eyes and mine ears.  I have heard whispers of terrible corruption in high places even at Rome itself.  I try not to hear or to think too much, but I cannot help my burning desire to know more of what passes in the world.  It was but a short year ago that a godly man coming from foreign lands told us fearful tales of the corruption even of the papal court.  O my father, I fear to whisper it even to thee; but I cannot but ask in my heart, can the popes be truly apostles?  And if not, can we say that the channel of grace once given to men is open yet for us to drink from?  Ah, pardon me if I err!  I will do penance for my evil thoughts.  But where may we find now those four life-giving streams by which Christ purposed to keep His body, the Church, nourished and sustained?  Prophets there be none, save here and there a spark of the old fire.  Those travelling friars are sometimes holy men; but, alas! they are bitter foes of the very Church from which they profess to be sent out, and are oft laid under the papal ban.  We have our pastor priests; but do they feed the flock?  O my father, how can I walk with closed eyes through this world of sin and strife?  If the channels run dry, if the pastors refuse food to the hungry people, can it be sin if they strive to feed themselves, even though they be something too ignorant to do it wisely and well?”

A very grave, thoughtful, and austere look was stamped upon the face towards which Edred directed his gaze.  It was long before he received any answer, and then it was but a sorrowful one.