Anyway,IwasgladIwasnotdead,fornowthatallwasoverI
trembledandfeltafraid,whichIhadneverdoneduringthefighting,evenwhenmyhourseemedverynear。
Lastlytherewasthishigh—bornlady,BlancheAleys,withwhomfortunehadthrownmesostrangelythatday。Thoseblueeyesofhershadpiercedmyheartlikedarts,anddowhatIwouldImightnotridmymindofthethoughtofher,ormyearsofthesoundofhersoftvoice,whileherkissesseemedstilltoburnuponmylips。ItwrungmetothinkthatperhapsIshouldneverseeheragain,orthatifIdidI
mightnotspeakwithher,beingsofarbeneathherincondition,andhavingalreadyearnedthewrathofherfather,and,asIguessed,thejealousyofthatscentedcousinofherswhomtheysaidtheKinglovedlikeabrother。
Whathadmymothertoldme？ToleavethisplaceandgotoLondon,theretofindmyuncle,JohnGrimmer,goldsmithandmerchant,whowasmygodfather,andtoaskhimtotakemeintohisbusiness。I
rememberedthisuncleofmine,forsomesevenoreightyearsbefore,whenIwasagrowinglad,becausetherewasaplagueinLondonhehadcomedowntoHastingstovisitus。Heonlystayedaweek,however,becausehesaidthattheseaairtieduphisstomachandthathewouldratherrisktheplaguewithagoodstomachthanleaveitbehindhimwithabadone——thoughIthinkitwashisbusinesshethoughtof,nothisstomach。
Hewasastrangeoldman,notunlikemymother,butwithanosemorehooked,smalldarkeyes,andabaldheadonwhichhesetacapofvelvet。Evenintheheatofsummerhewasalwayscoldandworeafrayedfurrobe,complainingmuchifhecameintoadraughtofair。
IndeedhelookedlikeaJew,thoughagoodChristianenough,andlaughedaboutit,becausehesaidthatthisappearanceofhisservedhimwellinhistrade,sinceJewswerealwaysfeared,anditwasheldtobeimpossibletooverreachthem。
FortherestIonlyrecalledthatheexaminedmeastomybooklearningwhichdidnotsatisfyhim,andwentaboutvaluingallourgoodsandfishing—boats,showingmymotherhowwewerebeingcheatedandmightearnmorethanwedid。WhenhedepartedhegavemeagoldpieceandsaidthatLifewasnothingbutvanity,andthatImustprayforhissoulwhenhewasdeadashewassureitwouldneedsuchhelp,alsothatIoughttoputthegoldpieceouttointerest。ThisIdidbybuyingwithitacertainfiercemastiffdogIcovetedthathadbeenbroughtonashipfromNorway,whichdogbitsomegreatmaninourtown,whohauledmymotherbeforethebailiffaboutitandcausedthepoorbeasttobekilled,tomygreatwrath。
NowthatIcametothinkofit,IhadlikedmyUncleJohnwellenoughalthoughhewassodifferentfromothers。WhyshouldInotgotohim？
BecauseIdidnotwishtositinashopinLondon,Iwholovedtheseaandtheopenair;alsobecauseIfearedhemightaskmewhatIhaddonewiththatgoldpieceandmakeamockofmeaboutthedog。Yetmymotherhadbiddenmego,anditwasherlastcommandtome,herdyingwordswhichitwouldbeunluckytodisobey。Moreover,ourboatsandhousewereburntandImustworkhardandlongbeforethesecouldbereplaced。Lastly,inLondonIshouldseenomoreoftheladyBlancheAleys,andtherecouldlearntoforgetthelightsinherblueeyes。SoIdeterminedthatIwouldgo,andatlastfellasleep。
NextmorningImademyconfessiontotheoldpriestthat,amongstothermatters,hemightshrivemeofthebloodwhichIhadshed,thoughthishesaidneedednoforgivenessfromGodorman,being,asI
think,astoutEnglishmanatheart。AlsoItookcounselwithhimastowhatIshoulddo,andhetoldmeitwasmydutytoobeymymother'swishes,sincesuchlastwordswereofteninspiredfromonhighanddeclaredthewillofHeaven。FurtherhepointedoutthatIshoulddowelltoavoidtheladyBlancheAleyswhowasonefarabovemeindegree,thefollowingofwhommightbringmetotrouble,oreventodeath;moreover,thatImightmendmybrokenfortunesthroughthehelpofmyuncle,averyrichmanashehadheard,towhomhewouldwritealetteraboutme。
Thusthismatterwassettled。
StillsomedayswentbybeforeIleftHastings,sincefirstImustwaituntiltheashesofourhousewerecoolenoughtosearchinthemformymother'sbody。Thosewhofoundheratlengthsaidthatshewasnotsomuchburnedasmighthavebeenexpected,butastothisIamuncertain,sinceIcouldnotbringmyselftolookuponherwhodesiredtorememberherasshehadbeeninlife。Shewasburiedbythesideofmyfather,whowasdrowned,inthechurchyardofSt。Clement's,andwhenallhadgoneawayIweptalittleonhergrave。
TherestofthatdayIspentmakingreadyformyjourney。Asitchancedwhenthehousewasburnttheoutbuildingswhichlayonthefarthersideoftheyardbehindescapedthefire,andinthestableweretwogoodhorses,oneagreyriding—geldingandtheotheramarethatusedtodragthenetstothequayandbringbackthefish,whichhorses,althoughfrightenedandalarmed,wereunharmed。Alsotherewasaquantityofstores,nets,salt,driedfishinbarrels,andIknownotwhatbesides。ThehorsesIkept,butalltherestofthegear,togetherwiththepremises,thegroundonwhichthehousehadstood,andtheotherpropertyImadeovertoWilliam,myman,whopromisedmetopaymetheirvaluewhenhecouldearnitinbettertimes。
NextmorningIrodeawayforLondonuponthegreyhorse,loadingthearmouroftheknightIhadkilledandsuchotherpossessionsasremainedtomeuponthemarewhichIledwitharope。SaveWilliamtherewasnonetosaymegood—bye,forthemiseryinHastingswassogreatthatallwereconcernedwiththeirownaffairsorinmourningtheirdead。Iwasnotsorrythatitfelloutthus,sinceIwassofullofsadnessatleavingtheplacewhereIwasbornandhadlivedallmylife,thatIthinkIshouldhaveshedtearsifanywhohadbeenmyfriendshadspokenkindwordstome,whichwouldhavebeenunmanly。
NeverhadIfeltsolonelyaswhenfromthehighgroundIgazedbacktotheruinsofHastingsoverwhichstillhungathinpallofsmoke。
Mycourageseemedtofailmealtogether;Ilookedforwardtothefuturewithfear,believingthatIhadbeenbornunlucky,thatitheldnogoodformewhoprobablyshouldendmydaysasacommonsoldierorafisherman,ormayhapinprisonoronthegallows。FromchildhoodI
hadsufferedthesefitsofgloom,butasyetthiswastheblackestofthemthatIhadknown。
Atlength,thesunthathadbeenhiddenshoneoutandwithitscomingmytemperchanged。IrememberedthatIwhomightsoeasilyhavebeendead,wassound,young,andhealthy,thatIhadsword,bow,andarmourofthebest,alsotwentyormoreofgoldpieces,forIhadnotcountedthem,inthebagwhichmymothergavemewithWave—Flame。Further,I
hopedthatmyunclewouldbefriendme,andifhedidnot,therewereplentyofcaptainsengagedinthewarswhomightbegladofasquire,onewhocouldshootagainstanymanandhandleaswordaswellasmost。
SoputtingupaprayertoSt。Hubertaftermysimplefashion,Ipushedonblithelytothecrestofalongriseandtherecamefacetofacewithagaycompanywho,hawkonwristandhoundatheel,were,I
guessed,ontheirwaytohuntinthePevenseymarshes。WhiletheywerestillalittlewayoffIknewthesetobenootherthanSirRobertAleys,hisdaughterBlanche,andtheKing'sfavourite,youngLordDeleroy,withtheirservants,andwasmindedtoturnasidetoavoidthem。ThenIrememberedthatIhadasmuchrighttotheKing'sHighwayasthey,andmyprideaidingme,determinedtorideontakingnonoteofthem,unlessfirsttheytooknoteofme。Alsotheyknewme,formyearsbeingverysharp,IheardSirRobertsayinhisbigvoice:
"Herecomesthatyoungfishermanagain。Passhiminsilence,Daughter";heard,too,LordDeleroydrawlit,"Itseemsthathehasbeengatheringgearfromtheslain,andlikeagoodchapmanbearsitawayforsecretsale。"
OnlytheladyBlancheansweredneithertheonenortheother,butrodeforwardwithhereyesfixedbeforeher,pretendingtotalktothehawkuponherwrist,andnowthatshewasrestedandatease,lookingevenmorebeautifulthanshehaddoneonthedayoftheburning。
Sowemetandpassed,Iglancingatthemidlyandguidingmyhorsestothesideoftheroad。WhentherewereperhapstenyardsbetweenusI
heardLadyBlanchecry:
"Oh,myhawk！"Ilookedroundtoseethatthefalcononherwristhadinsomewaylooseditself,orbeenloosed,andbeinghooded,hadfallentothegroundwhereoneofthedogswastryingtocatchandkillit。Nowtherewasgreatconfusion,theeyesofallbeingfixeduponthehawkandthedog,inthemidstofwhichtheladyBlancheveryquietlyturnedherhead,andliftingherhandasthoughtoseehowthehawkhadfallenfromit,withaswiftmovementlaidherfingersagainstherlipsandthrewakisstome。
AsswiftlyIbowedbackandwentonmywaywithabeatingheart。ForafewmomentsIwasfilledwithjoy,sinceIcouldnotmistakethemeaningofthissignalledkiss。ThencamesorrowlikeanAprilcloud,sincemywoundwhichwasinthewayofhealingwasallre—opened。I
hadbeguntoforgettheladyBlanche,orratherbyaneffortofthewill,tothrustherfrommythought,asmyconfessorhadbiddenme。
Butnowonthewingsofthatblownkissthithershehadflownbackagain,nottobefrightedoutformanyaday。
ThatnightIsleptataninnatTonbridge,acomfortableplacewherethehoststaredatthegoldpiecefromthebagwhichItenderedinpayment,andatfirstwouldnottakewhatwasduetohimoutofit,becauseitboretheheadofsomeancientking。However,intheendamerchantofTonbridgewhocameinforhismorningaleshowedhimthatitwasgood,sothattroublepassed。
AbouttwointheafternoonIcametoSouthwark,atownthattomeseemedasbigasHastingsbeforeitwasburned,wherewasafineinncalledtheTabardatwhichIstoppedtobaitmyhorsesandtotakeabiteanddrinkofale。ThenIrodeonoverthegreatThameswherefloatedamultitudeofshipsandboats,crossingitbyLondonBridge,aworksowonderfulthatImarvelledthatitcouldbemadebythehandofman,andsobroadthatithadshopsoneithersideoftheroadway,inwhichweresoldallsortsofmerchandise。ThenceIinquiredmywaytoCheapside,andcamethereatlastthrustingapaththrougharoaringmultitudeofpeople,orsoitseemedtomewhoneverbeforehadseensomanymenandwomengatheredtogether,allgoingontheirwayand,itwouldappear,ignorantofeachother。
HereIfoundalongandcrowdedthoroughfarewithgabledhousesoneithersideinwhichallkindsoftradeswerecarriedon。DownthisI
wandered,beingcursedatmorethanoncebecausemypackmare,growingfrightened,draggedawayfrommeandcrossedthepathofcartswhichhadtostoptillIcouldpullherfree。AfterthethirdofthesetanglesIhaltedbythesideofthefootwaybehindawainwithbarrelsonit,andlookedaboutmebewildered。
Tomyleftwasahousesomewhatsetbackfromthegenerallinethathadalittlepatchofgardengroundinfrontofitinwhichgrewsomeuntendedandthriftless—lookingshrubs。Thishouseseemedtobeaplaceofbusinessbecausefromanironfastenedtothefrontofithungaboardonwhichwaspaintedanopenboat,highattheprowandstern,withatallbeakfashionedtothelikenessofadragon'sheadandroundshieldsalldowntherail。
WhileIwasstaringatthissignandwonderingemptilywhatkindofaboatitwasandofwhatnationwerethefolkwhohadsailedinher,amancamedownthegardenpathandleaneduponthegate,staringinturnatme。Hewasoldandstrange—looking,beingcladinarustygownwithahoodtoitthatwaspulledoverhishead,sothatIcouldonlyseeawhite,peakedbeardandapairofbrilliantblackeyeswhichseemedtopiercemeasashoemaker'sawlpiercesleather。
"Whatdoyou,youngman,"heaskedinahighthinvoice,"cumberingmygatewiththosenagsofyours？Wouldyousellthatmailyouhaveonthepack—horse？IfsoIdonotdealinsuchstuff,thoughitseemsgoodofitskind。Sogetonwithitelsewhere。"
"Nay,sir,"Ianswered,"Ihavenaughttosellwhointhishiveoftradersseekonebeeandcannotfindhim。"
"Hiveoftraders！TrulythegreatmerchantsoftheCheapwouldbehonoured。Havetheystungyou,then,already,youngbumpkinfromthecountryside,forsuchIwriteyoudown？Butwhatbeedoyouseek？
Stay,now,letmeguess。IsitacertainoldknavenamedJohnGrimmer,whotradesingoldandjewelsandotherpreciousthingsandwho,ifhehadhisdeserts,shouldbejail？"
"Aye,aye,that'stheman,"Isaid。
"Surelyhealsowillbehonoured,"exclaimedtheoldfellowwithacackle。"He'safriendofmineandIwilltellhimthejest。"
"Ifyouwouldtellmewheretofindhimitwouldbemoreseasonable。"
"Allingoodtime。Butfirst,youngsir,wheredidyougetthatfinearmour？Ifyoustoleit,itshouldbebetterhid。"
"Stoleit！"Ibeganinwrath。"AmIaLondonchapman————？"
"Ithinknot,thoughyoumaybebeforeallisdone,forwhoknowswhatviletricksFortunewillplayus？Well,ifyoudidnotstealit,mayhapyouslewthewearerandareamurderer,forIseeblackbloodonthesteel。"
"Murderer！"Igasped。
"Aye,justasyousayJohnGrimmerisaknave。Butifnot,thenperchanceyouslewtheFrenchknightwhoworeitonHastingsHill,ereyouloosedthethreearrowsatthemouthofthecavenearMinnesRock。"
NowIgapedathim。
"Shutyourmouth,youngman,lestthoseteethofyoursshouldfallout。YouwonderhowIknow？Well,myfriendJohnGrimmer,thegoldsmithknave,hasamagiccrystalwhichhepurchasedfromonewhobroughtitfromtheEast,andIsawitinthatcrystal。"
Ashespoke,asthoughbychancehepushedbackthehoodthatcoveredhishead,revealingawrinkledoldfacewithamockingmouthwhichdroopedatonecorner,amouththatIknewagain,althoughmanyyearshadpassedsinceIlookeduponitasaboy。
"YouareJohnGrimmer！"Imuttered。
"Yes,HubertofHastings,Iamthatknavehimself。Andnowtellme,whatdidyoudowiththegoldpieceIgaveyousometwelvesummersgone？"
ThenIwasmindedtolie,forIfearedthisoldman。Butthinkingbetterofit,IansweredthatIhadspentitonadog。Helaughedoutrightandsaid:
"Praythatitisnotanomenandthatyoumaynotfollowthegoldpiecetothedogs。Well,Ilikeyouforspeakingthetruthwhenyouaretemptedtodootherwise。WillyoubepleasedtoshelterforawhilebeneaththeroofofJohnGrimmer,themerchantknave？"
"Youmockme,sir,"Istammered。
"Perhaps,perhaps！Butthere'smanyatruewordspokeninjest;forifyoudonotknowitnowyouwilllearnitafterwardsthatweareallknaves,eachinhisownfashion,whoifwedonotdeceiveothers,atleastdeceiveourselves,andIperhapsmorethanmost。Vanityofvanities！Allisvanity。"
Then,waitingfornoreply,hedrewasilverwhistlefromunderhisdustyrobeandblewit,whereon——soswiftlythatImarvelledwhetherhewerewaiting——astout—builtservingmanappearedtowhomhesaid:
"Takethesehorsestothestableandtreatthemasthoughtheyweremyown。Unloadthepackbeast,andwhenithasbeencleaned,setthemailandtheothergearuponitintheroomthathasbeenmadereadyforthisyoungmaster,HubertofHastings,mynephew。"
Withoutawordthemanledoffthehorses。
"Benotafraid,"chuckledJohnGrimmer,"forthoughIamaknave,dogdoesnoteatdogandwhatisyoursissafewithmeandthosewhoserveme。Nowenter,"andheledthewayintothehouse,openingtheiron—
studdedoakdoorwithakeyfromhispouch。
WithinwasashopwhereIsawpreciousthingssuchasfursandgoldornamentslyingabout。
"Thecrumbstocatchthebirds,especiallytheladybirds,"hesaidwithasweepofhishand,thentookmethroughtheshopintoapassageandthencetoaroomontheright。ItwasnotalargeroombutmorewonderfullyfurnishedthananyIhadeverseen。Inthecentrewasatableofblackoakwithcunninglycarvedlegs,onwhichstoodcupsofsilverandanoblecentrepiecethatseemedtobeofgold。Fromtheceiling,too,hungsilverlampsthatalreadyhadbeenlit,fortheeveningwasclosingin,andgaveasweetsmell。Therewasahearthalsowithwhatwasrare,achimney,uponwhichburnedalittlefireoflogs,whilethewallswerehungwithtapestriesandbroideredsilks。
WhilstIstaredaboutme,myuncletookoffhiscloakbeneathwhichhewasclothedinsomerichbutratherthreadbarestuff,onlyretainingthevelvetskullcapthathewore。Thenhebademedothesame,andwhenIhadlaidmyoutergarmentaside,lookedmealloverinthelamplight。
"Aproperyoungman,"hemutteredtohimself,"andI'dgiveallIhavetobehisageandlikehim。Isupposethoselimbsandsinewsofhiscamefromhisfather,forIwaseverthinandspare,aswasmyfatherbeforeme。NephewHubert,IhaveheardallthetaleofyourdealingswiththeFrenchmen,onwhombeGod'scurse,atHastingsyonder;andI
saythatIamproudofyou,thoughwhetherIshallstaysoisanothermatter。Comehither。"
Iobeyed,andtakingmebymycurlinghairwithhisdelicatehand,hedrewdownmyheadandkissedmeonthebrow,muttering,"Neitherchicknorchildformeandonlythisoneleftoftheancientblood。Mayhedoithonour。"
Thenhemotionedtometobeseatedandrangalittlesilverbellthatstooduponthetable。Asinthecaseofthemanwithout,itwasansweredinstantlyfromwhichIjudgedthatMasterGrimmerwaswellserved。Beforetheechoesofthebelldiedawayadooropened,thetapestryswungaside,andthereappearedtwomostcomelyservingmaids,tallandwell—shapedbothofthem,bearingfood。
"Prettywomen,Nephew,nowonderthatyoulookatthem,"hesaidwhentheyhadgoneawaytofetchotherthings,"suchasIliketohaveaboutmealthoughIamold。Womenforwithinandmenforwithout,thatisNature'slaw,andillwillbethedaywhenitischanged。Yetbewareofprettywomen,Nephew,andIprayyoukissnotthoseasyoudidtheladyBlancheAleysatHastings,lestitshouldupsetmyhouseholdandturnservantsintomistresses。"
Imadenoanswer,beingconfoundedbytheknowledgethatmyuncleshowedofmeandmyaffairs,whichafterwardsIdiscoveredhehad,inpartatanyrate,fromtheoldpriest,myconfessor,whohadwrittentocommendmetohim,tellingmystoryandsendingtheletterbyaKing'smessenger,wholeftforLondononthemorrowoftheBurning。
Nordidhewaitforany,forhebademesitdownandeat,plyingmewithmoremeatsthanIcouldswallow,allmostdelicatelydressed,alsowithrarewinessuchasIhadnevertasted,whichhetookfromacupboardwheretheywerekeptincuriousflasksofglass。YetasI
noted,himselfheatebutlittle,onlypickingatthebreastofafowlanddrinkingbutthehalfofasmallsilvergobletfilledwithwine。
"Appetite,likeallothergoodthings,fortheyoung,"hesaidwithasighashewatchedmyheartyfeasting。"Yetremember,Nephew,thatifyoulivetoreachit,adaywillcomewhenyourswillbeasmineis。
Vanityofvanities,saiththepreacher,allisvanity！"
Atlength,whenIcouldeatnomore,againherangthesilverbellandthosefairwaitinggirlsdressedalikeingreenappearedandclearedawaythebrokenmeats。Aftertheyweregonehecrouchedoverthefirerubbinghisthinhandstowarmthem,andsaidsuddenly:
"Nowtellmeofmysister'sdeathandalltherestofyourtale。"
SoaswellasIwasableItoldhimeverythingfromthehourwhenI
hadfirstsightedtheFrenchfleetonboardmyfishing—boattotheend。
"Youarenofool,"hesaidwhenIhadfinished,"whocantalklikeanyclerkandbringthingsthathavehappenedclearlytothelistener'seye,whichIhavenotedfewareabletodo。Sothat'sthestory。Well,yourmotherhadagreatheart,andshemadeagreatend,suchanoneaswaslovedofournorthernrace,andthatevenI,theoldmerchantknave,desireandshallnotwin,whodoubtlessamdoomedtodieacow'sdeathinthestraw。PraytheAll—FatherOdin——nay,thatisheresyforwhichImightburnifyouorthewenchestoldittothepriests——prayGod,Imean,thatHemaygrantyouabetter,asHedidtooldThorgrimmer,ifthetalebetrue,Thorgrimmerwhoseswordyouwearandhavewieldedshrewdly,asthatFrenchknightknowsinhellto—day。"
"WhowasOdin？"Iasked。
"ThegreatgodoftheNorth。Didnotyourmothertellyouofhim？Nay,doubtlessshewastoogoodaChristian。Yetheliveson,Nephew。IsaythatOdinlivesinthebloodofeveryfightingman,asFreyalivesintheheartofeveryladandgirlwholoves。Thegodschangetheirnames,buthush！hush！talknotofOdinandofFreya,forIsaythatitisheresy,orpagan,whichisworse。Whatwouldyoudonow？WhycameyoutoLondon？"
"Becausemymotherbademeandtoseekmyfortune。"
"Fortune——whatisfortune？Youthandhealtharethebestfortune,though,iftheyknowhowtouseit,thosewhohavewealthaswellmaygofurtherthantherest。Alsobeauteousthingsarepleasanttothesightandthereisjoyingatheringthem。Yetatthelasttheymeannothing,fornakedwecameoutoftheblacknessandnakedwereturnthere。Vanityofvanities,allisvanity！"
CHAPTERIV
KARI
ThusbeganmylifeinLondoninthehouseofmyuncle,JohnGrimmer,whowascalledtheGoldsmith。Intruth,however,hewasmorethanthis,sincenotonlydidhefashionandtradeincostlythings;helentoutmoneystointerestuponsecuritytogreatpeoplewhoneededit,andeventothekingRichardandhisCourt。AlsoheownedshipsanddidmuchcommercewithHolland,France,yes,andwithSpainandItaly。Indeed,althoughheappearedsohumble,hiswealthwasverylargeandalwaysincreased,likeasnowballrollingdownahill;
moreover,heownedmuchland,especiallyintheneighbourhoodofLondonwhereitwaslikelytogrowinvalue。
"Moneymelts,"hewouldsay,"furscorruptwithmothandtime,andthievesbreakinandsteal。Butland——ifthetitlebegood——remains。
Thereforebuyland,whichnonecancarryaway,neartoamarketoragrowingtownifmaybe,andhireitouttofoolstofarm,orsellittootherfoolswhowishtobuildgreathousesandspendtheirgoodsinfeedingamultitudeofidleservants。Houseseat,Hubert,andthelargertheyare,themoretheyeat。"
Noworddidhesaytomeastomydwellingonwithhim,yetthereI
remained,bycommonconsent,asitwere。IndeedonthemorrowofmycomingatailorappearedtomeasuremeforsuchgarmentsashethoughtIshouldwear,byhiscommand,Isuppose,asIwasneveraskedforpayment,andhebademefurnishmychambertomyownliking,alsoanotherroomatthebackofthehousethatwasmuchlargerthanitseemed,whichhetoldmewastobeminetoworkin,thoughatwhatI
wastoworkhedidnotsay。
ForadayortwoIremainedidle,staringatthesightsofLondonandonlymeetingmyuncleatmealswhichsometimesweatealoneandsometimesinthecompanyofsea—captainsandlearnedclerksorofothermerchants,allofwhomtreatedhimwithgreatdeferenceandasI
soonguessed,wereintruthhisservants。Atnight,however,wewerealwaysaloneandthenhewouldpourouthiswisdomonmewhileI
listened,sayinglittle。Onthesixthday,growingwearyofthisidleness,ImadeboldtoaskhimiftherewasaughtthatIcoulddo。
"Aye,plentyifyouhaveamindtowork,"heanswered。"Sitdownnow,andtakepenandpaperandwritewhatIshalltellyou。"
ThenhedictatedashortlettertomeastoshippingwinefromSpain,andwhenitwassanded,readitcarefully。
"Youhaveitright,"hesaid,seemingpleased,"andyourscriptisclearifboyish。TheytaughtyounonesoillyonderatHastingswhereIthoughtyouhadonlylearnedtohandleropesandarrows。Work？Yes,thereisplentyofitofthemoreprivatesortwhichIdonotgivetothisscribeortothatwhomightbetraymysecrets。Forknow,"hewentoninasternvoice,"thereisonethingwhichIneverpardon,anditisbetrayal。Rememberthat,nephewHubert,eveninthearmsofyourloves,ifyoushouldbefoolenoughtoseekthem,orinyourcups。"
Sohetalkedon,andwhilehedidsowenttoanironchestthatheunlocked,andthencedrewoutaparchmentrollwhichhebademetaketomyworkroomandcopythere。Ididso,andfoundthatitwasaninventoryofhisgoodsandestates,andoh！beforeIhaddoneIwishedthattherewerefewerofthem。AllthelongdayIlaboured,onlystoppingforabiteatnoon,tillmyheadswamandmyfingersached。
YetasIdidsoIfeltproud,forIguessedthatmyunclehadsetmethistaskfortworeasons:first,toshowhistrustinme,and,secondly,toacquaintmewiththestateofhispossessions,butasitwereinthewayofbusiness。BynightfallIhadfinishedandcheckedthecopywhichwiththeoriginalIhidinmyrobewhenthegreen—robedwaitingmaidsummonedmetoeat。