Thou doest well to look ahead of thee, for there
is no gain to be had from lying in the king's dungeon, but mayhap thou
shalt lose thy head also, as well as thy liberty. But what doest thou
now?"
"Why, I fain would sleep, having had no rest in the night. But the
canon knoweth naught of that, nor may I tell him. He must be busy till
even, and so he sendeth me to view the cathedral; and thou mayest go
with me."
To this Humphrey made no reply, but followed his young master in
silence.
The verger who took them in charge was an ancient man called Paulinus
of Mansfield, having been born in that place. And he soon saw that what
he had to show of the unfinished cathedral was lost on the heavy-lidded
boy who was half asleep, and upon the Saxon serving-man, who felt no
interest in such matters. Wherefore when he came from the chapter-house
into the cloisters he, being old and feeble, was fain to sit down on a
stone bench and rest; and he motioned Hugo to a seat beside him.
Humphrey had the idea that, at all times and in all places, wisdom was
with the aged. Besides, the old verger reminded him, in certain
particulars, of his own grandsire, who was a great talker and who knew
more of all matters concerning the countryside than half a dozen other
men.
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