Outside the walled herb garden the vegetable plots extended, andbeyond the slight rise on their right the harvested pease fieldsran down to the Meole Brook, which was the rear border of the abbyenclave. And there was Brother Winfrid in full vigorous action, abig, loose-jointed youth with a shock-head of wiry hair hedging inhis shaven crown, his habit kilted to brawny knees, and a broadfoot shod in a wooden clog driving the steel-edged spade throughthe fibrous tangle of bean holms as through blades of grass. Hegave them one beaming glance as they passed, and returned to hiswork without breaking the rhythm. Hugh had one glimpse of aweather-browned country face and round, guileless blue eyes.

“Yes, I should think he might do very well,” hesaid, impressed and amused, “whether with a spade or abattle-axe. I could do with a dozen such at the castle wheneverthey care to offer their services.”

“He’d be no use to you,” said Cadfael withcertainty. “Like most big men, the gentlest soul breathing.He’d throw his sword away to pick up the man he’dflattened. It’s the little, shrill terriers that bare theirteeth.”

They emerged into the band of flowerbeds beyond the kitchengarden, where the rose bushes had grown leggy and begun to shedtheir leaves. Rounding the corner of the box hedge, they came outinto the great court, at this working hour of the morning almostdeserted but for one or two travellers coming and going about theguest hall, and a stir of movement down in the stables. Just asthey rounded the tall hedge to step into the court, a small figureshot out of the gate of the grange court, where the barns andstorage lofts lined three sides of a compact yard, and made off ata run across the narrows of the court into the cloister, to emergea minute later at the other end at a decorous walk, with eyeslowered in seemly fashion, and plump, childish hands devoutlylinked at his belt, the image of innocence. Cadfael haltedconsiderately, with a hand on Hugh’s arm, to avoidconfronting the boy too obviously.