“While it’s so fine and mild,” said Huw, standing aside towave them into the little enclosure of his garden, “it may please youbest to sit in the orchard. I have benches and table there. Through the summerI live out of doors. Time enough to go within and light fires when the daysdraw in and the nights grow cold.”

His holding was tiny and his living poor enough but he took good care of hisfruit-trees and was a diligent gardener, Brother Cadfael noted with approval.And for one who seemed, unlike many of the parish priests of the Celticpersuasion, to be celibate, and happily so, he had the bare little house andgrounds in very neat order, and could produce from his own store, or hisparishioners’ shared stock, clean wooden trenchers and good bread to puton them, and plain but presentable drinking-horns for his raw red wine. Heperformed all the ceremonies due from a host with humble dignity. The boy Edwinreturned with a lively old woman, Huw’s neighbour, bringing food anddrink. And all the while that the visitors sat there in the sun, various of thepeople of Gwytherin, scattered though the parish might be, found occasion towalk past the wattle fence of the orchard and examine the party carefully,though without seeming to do so. It was not every day, or every year, indeed,that they had so momentous a visitation. Every soul in the parish would knowbefore evening not only that monks from Shrewsbury were guests at Huw’shouse, but also how many they were, what they looked like, what fine horses andhandsome mules they had, and most probably what they had come for, into thebargain. But the eyeing and the listening were done with perfect courtesy anddiscretion.

“And now, since Master Urien has to return to Aber,” said Huw,when they had eaten and were sitting at ease, “it might be well if hewould tell me in what particular I can serve the brothers of Shrewsbury, sothat he may be assured we understand each other before he leaves us. Andwhatever is in my competence I will surely do.”