Wit is not the
same at all times. Perchance something hath damaged mine for the time.
Do thou lead till I recover it; for thou art no more a stranger to me
as when we started."
"Nor thou to me, good Humphrey," replied Hugo, with an affectionate
smile. "And I say, let us on with all courage to Lincoln."
"And why, lad?" asked Humphrey. "Because thou wouldst see the place,
even as I would see Ferrybridge a while back?"
"Partly," laughed Hugo. "And partly because it lieth very well in our
way."
"Hast ever been there?" asked Humphrey, anxiously.
"Nay, but mine uncle, the prior, hath often been. And I know the place
by report. We come to it by the north. Came we from the south, we could
see it some twenty miles off, because the country lieth flat around it,
and the city is set on a hill. Why, surely thou dost know the place. It
was a city under the Danes."
"Yea, I have heard of it from my grandsire," acknowledged Humphrey;
"but I know not if king's men be like to flourish there. For us that is
the principal thing."
Hugo laughed. "Ah, my brave Humphrey," he said, "why shouldst thou fear
king's men? Thou who canst lift up a king's man by the shoulders and
plant him like a rush in the miry pool!"
At this Humphrey smiled slightly himself.
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