He went first, however, to the infirmary, to check with Brother Edmund onone or two patients who were slow in their recovery from their wanderings,being feeble from age or poverty and hunger, and renew the dressing on aknife-wound which was ill to heal, and only then went to Compline, there topray for many more, besides his friend, his friend’s wife, and his friend’schild to come, this winter child.

England was already frozen into a winter years long, and he knew it. KingStephen was crowned, and held, however slackly, most of England. The EmpressMaud, his rival for the throne, held the west, and came with a claim the equalof Stephen’s. Cousins, most uncousinly, they tore each other and tore Englandbetween them, and yet life must go on, faith must go on, the stubborn defianceof fortune must go on in the husbandry of the year, season after season, ploughand harrow and seed, tillage and harvest. And here in the cloister and thechurch, the sowing and tillage and harvest of souls. Brother Cadfael had nofear for mankind, whatever became of mere men. Hugh’s childwould be a new generation, a new beginning, a new affirmation, spring inmidwinter.

It was on the last day of November that Brother Herward, sub-prior of theBenedictine monastery of Worcester, appeared at chapter in the fraternal houseof Saint Peter and Saint Paul at Shrewsbury, where he had arrived the previousnight, and been entertained in Abbot Radulfus’ own lodging as a cherishedguest. Most of the brothers had no knowledge of his coming, and wondered whothis could be, brought in courteously by their own abbot, and seated at hisright hand. For once Brother Cadfael knew no more than his fellows.

The abbot and his guest made a sharp contrast. Radulfus was tall, erect,vigorous, with strong, austere features, magisterially calm. When needed, hecould blaze, and those scorched drew back advisedly, but his fire was always incontrol. The man who entered beside him was meager, small and slight of body,grey of tonsure, still tired after his journey, but his ageing eyes were directof gaze, and his mouth set into lines of patience and endurance.