“That is better.  It would be something gloomy to be shut up here without light enough to study by; but with books and food one might spend many a week here and not be overwhelmed with dullness.  The place is something straight, to be sure, and there is bare room for a tall man to stand upright.”

Edred drew himself to his full height, and found that his head did not quite reach the beams which formed the ceiling.

“I trow Brother Emmanuel could just stand; he is not greatly taller than I. And he is marvellous contented with a very little, and has been used to passing days and weeks in the solitude of his cell.  Sure this would not be to him an evil place.  If he had but a book or two and the needful food, he would be vastly content.

“I wonder if he can be in any sort of peril.  I liked not the looks or the words of you malicious monk.  Our father and mother often say that these be times when men must walk warily, and ofttimes they tell of godly men even in high places who have fallen into disgrace and been accused of fearful sins.  It is not safe in these days to have for enemies those who are within the pale of the Church—­monks and priors, men who are held up as examples and models of true faith and piety.

“I know not whether they merit the praise men give to them.  Methinks Brother Emmanuel could teach them many things both in precept and practice.  But it is not for me to be the judge in such matters; yet if he were in any kind of peril, I would lay down my life to save him!”

The boy’s eyes kindled at the thought.  He cherished for his preceptor an ardent and enthusiastic love, and he had his share of that chivalrous devotion and self-sacrifice which has been the brightest ornament of days that have much of darkness and cruelty to disgrace them.

His face wore a very earnest look as he set about his homely task of cleaning and setting in order this secret chamber.  He was more than two hours over his task, for he went through it with unwonted energy.  The place looked almost tempting before he had done with it, and he looked about him with satisfied eyes at the close of his labours.

There was a convenient spout, meant to carry off the rain water from the complex level of the old roof, which made an excellent substitute for a dust shoot.  It could be got at from this place without difficulty, and Edred shot down his rubbish without any trouble through a funnel-like piece of wood he and his brothers had contrived for the purpose many years before.  Then he stood quite still at the aperture whence the soft breeze came blowing in, lost in thought.

“It doth get very hot here in the summer days,” he remarked, “and in especial at this end of the room, where it abuts upon the leads.  It is cooler yonder, but then it is also darker.  The air and the light come in at this side, but so does the heat likewise.  And how thirsty one gets, too!  My throat is parched and dry.  I mind me how poor Warbel suffered in like manner when he was here.  Food could be brought in without trouble.  I will amass even now by slow degrees some of those hard oaten cakes that keep good for weeks, and some salted venison that would last the winter through.