He did not advance more than this, for his teacher was apt to go off in a musing dream of meditation, repeating over and over in low sweet tones the holy phrases, and not always rousing himself when his pupil made a remark or asked a question.  Yet he was always concerned at his own inattention when awakened, and would apologise in a tone of humility that always made Hal feel grieved and ashamed of having been importunate.  For there was a dignity and gentleness about the hermit that always made the boy feel the contrast with his own roughness and uncouthness, and reverence him as something from a holier world.

‘Nurse, I do think he is a saint,’ one day said Hal.

’Nay, nay, my laddie, saints don’t come down from heaven in these days of evil.’

’I would thou could see him when one comes upon him at his prayers.  His face is like the angel at the cross I saw so long ago in the castle chapel.’

’Dost thou remember that chapel?  Thou wert a babe when we quitted it.’

’I had well nigh forgotten it, but the good hermit’s face brought all back again, and the voice of the father when he said the Service.’

’That thou shouldst mind so long!  This hermit is no priest, thou sayst?’

’No, he said he was not worthy; but sure all saints were not priests, nurse.’

’Nay, it is easy to be more worthy than the Jack Priests I have known.  Though I would they would let me go to church.  But look thee here, Hal, if he be such a saint as thou sayst, maybe thou couldst get him to bestow a blessing on poor Piers, and give him his hearing and voice.’

Hal was sure that his own special saint was holy enough for anything, and accordingly asked permission of him to bring his silent companion for blessing and healing.

The mild blue eye lighted for a moment.  ’Is the poor child then afflicted with the King’s Evil?’ the hermit asked.

’Nay, he is sound enough in skin and limb.  It is that he can neither hear nor speak, and if you, holy sir, would lay thine hand on him, and sign him with the rood, and pray, mayhap your holiness—­’

‘Peace, peace,’ cried the hermit impetuously, lifting up his hand.  ’Dost not know that I am a sinner like unto the rest—­nay, a greater sinner, in that a burthen was laid on me that I had not the soul to rise to, so that the sin and wickedness of thousands have been caused by my craven faint heart for well nigh two score years?  O miserere Domine.’

He threw himself on the ground with clasped hands, and Hal, standing by in awestruck amazement, heard no more save sobs, mingled with the supplications of the fifty-first Psalm.

He was obliged at last to go away without having been able to recall the attention of his friend from his agony of prayer.  With the reticence that had grown upon him, he did not mention at home the full effect of his request, but when he thought it over he was all the more convinced that his friend was a great saint.  Had he not always heard that saints believed themselves great sinners, and went through many penances?  And why did he speak as if he could have cured the King’s Evil?  He asked Dolly what it was, and she replied that it was the sickness that only the King’s touch could heal.