innocence. For I own freely that I had loved my life, and valued high thewarriors I had known, and the noble places and great actions I had seen, and ifI chose in my prime to renounce all these, and embrace this life of thecloister in preference to all other, then truly I think I paid the bestcompliment and homage I had to pay. And I cannot believe that anything I holdin my remembrance makes me less fit to profess this allegiance, but ratherbetter fits me to serve as well as I may. Had I been given in infancy, I shouldhave rebelled in manhood, wanting my rights. Free from childhood, I could wellafford to sacrifice my rights when I came to wisdom.”

“Yet you would not deny,” said the abbot, his lean face lit briefly by asmile, “the fitness of certain others, by nature and grace, to come in earlyyouth to the life you discovered in maturity?”

“By no means would I deny it! I think those who do so, and with certainty,are the best we have. So they make the choice of their own will, and by their ownlight.”

“Well, well!” said Radulfus, and mused with his chin in his hand, and hisdeep-set eyes shadowed. “Paul, have you any view to lay before us? You have theboys in charge, and I am well aware they seldom complain of you.” For BrotherPaul, middle-aged, conscientious and anxious, like a hen with a wayward brood,was known for his indulgence to the youngest, for ever in defence of mischief,but a good teacher for all that, instilling Latin without pain on either part.

“It would be no burden to me,” said Paul slowly, “to care for a little ladof four, but it is of no merit that I should take pleasure in such a charge, orthat he should be content. That is not what the Rule requires, or so it seemsto me. A good father could do as much for a little son. Better if he come inknowledge of what he does, and with some inkling of what he may be leavingbehind him. At fifteen or sixteen years, well taught…”