There was a small kitchen garden behind the hospice, and anorchard, and barns for storage. Cadfael conducted his charge roundthe entire enclave, and by the end of the circuit they had three ofthe inmates in close and curious attendance, the old man who tendedthe cabbages and showed off his produce with pride, a lame youthherpling along nimbly enough on two crutches, and the blind child,who had forsaken Brother Simon to attach himself to Cadfael’sgirdle, knowing the familiar voice.

“This is Warin,” said Cadfael, taking the boy by thehand as they made their way back to Brother Simon’s littledesk in the porch. “He sings well in chapel, and knows theoffice by heart. But you’ll soon know them all byname.”

Brother Simon rose from his accounts at sight of them returning.“He’s shown you everything? It’s no greathousehold, ours, but it does a great work. You’ll soon getused to us.”

Oswin beamed and blushed, and said that he would do his best. Itwas likely that he was waiting impatiently for his mentor todepart, so that he could begin to exercise his new responsibilitywithout the uneasiness of a pupil performing before his teacher.Cadfael clouted him cheerfully on the shoulder, bade him be good,in the tones of one having no doubts on that score, and turnedtowards the gate. They had moved out into the sunlight from thedimness of the porch.

“You’ve heard no fresh news from the south?”The denizens of Saint Giles, being encountered at the very edge ofthe town, were usually beforehand with news.

“Nothing to signify. And yet a man must wonder andspeculate. There was a beggar, able-bodied but getting old, whocame in three days ago, and stayed only overnight to rest. He wasfrom the Staceys, near Andover, a queer one, perhaps a mite touchedin his wits, who can tell? He gets notions, it seems, that move himon into fresh pastures, and when they come to him he must go. Hesaid he got word in his head that he had best get away northwardswhile there was time.”