The visitors were silent. The hermit seized the lamp, and
surveyed their persons with much care and deliberation.
"Holy father," said the abashed intruders, "we crave thy blessing, and
moreover a share of thy pittance, for our way hath been long and
toilsome: since yesterday our journeying hath been over hills and
through deep forests, infested by wolves and noisome beasts, which we
had much ado to escape."
The hermit drew a little table from the recess, blowing the wan embers
until a cheerful blaze flashed brightly through the cell. He then opened
a cupboard scooped out of the solid rock, and took thence a scrap of
hard cheese, a barley cake, and a few parched peas, with which the holy
men commenced their supper. They ate their meal in silence, washing down
the dainties with a draught from the spring. When the repast was
finished, one of the brethren thus addressed his host--
"And what shall be thy message to our holy abbot? Wilt thou send the
parchments to his grace?"
"Nay, brethren, that is not my purpose."
Another and a brief pause ensued.
"But the message?"
"Say that the will is here,"--he looked towards his bosom as he
spoke,--"and at the appointed hour it shall be ready.
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