The King's Achievement

e back of the terrace against the hall, watching Ralph, even more than his departing brother, with the fascinated interest that the discreet and dignified friend of Cromwell always commanded. Ralph

, was to ride with Chris, at his master's express wish; stay with him in the guest-h

looking at the game that was hanging head downwards from the

terrace steps where she could at once do her duty as a mother, and be moderately comfortable at the same time. She hardly spoke at all, but looked gravely

y; and at the same moment Chris and his father came

later Chris was mounted. Sir James said no more, but stood a little apart looking at his son. Lady Torridon smiled rather pleasantly and n

d, and added with an unus

up a little re-arranged. Sir James and Ralph were standing together, Ralph's arm thrust through his father'

*

il they had travelled some two of them, and had struck off towards

east under the same circumstances. It had the same effect on him, as a death in the house would have; the familiar things were the same, but they wore a new and strange significance. The few men and chil

servant was clever and well trained, and knew how to modulate his attitude to the precise degree of deference due to his master and his master's relations; he had entered Ralph's service from Cromwell's own eight years before. He liked nothing better than to talk of London and his exper

f furniture at York House: I saw some of it at Master Cromwell's;

d he did

set with agates and pearl, that I think I heard Mr. Ralp

arrow street at Westminster, but the c

going down to Hampton Court, with his gentlemen bearing the silver pillars be

confessed he

e was the Red Hat borne in front by another gentleman. At mass, too, he would be served by none under the rank of an earl; and I heard that he would have a duke sometimes for his lavabo. I heard Mr. R

what was i

sir," said Mr. Mo

litical aspects of Wolsey, although Chris tried hard to get him to speak, and he would neither praise nor blame

ll's man told me, near as well as my Lord of Canterbury himself. You know they say, sir, that the Archbishop can ride horses that none of his groom

little tiresome to Chris, and soon after passing through Ditchling, Mr. Morris, having pointed across the country towards Fatton Hovel, and ha

e chalk glared in the bright afternoon sun. Ditchling beacon rose to their right, a hundred feet higher than the surrounding hills, and the high country sloped away fro

himself by the thought of that larger world, so bright with revelation and so enchanting in its mystery that lay before him. He pleased himself by picturing this last journey as a ride through a

ering to his left, a silver gleam of the Ouse here and there between the plaster and timber houses as the river wound beneath its bridges, and beyond all the vast masses of the Priory straig

p as Chris checke

e road, not fifty yards away, with a ragged shape or two hanging there, and a great bird rising

less mouth rose croaking and entreating from the ditch by the road, the servant pointed with tight lips and solemn ey

oar seemed to be bidding him haste and be welcome. Mr. Morris was close beside him, and remarked on this and that as they went, the spire of St. Ann's away to the right, with St. Pancras's Bridge, a swinging sign over an inn with Queen Katharine's face erased, but plainly visible under Ann Boleyn's, the tall mound beyond the Priory crowned by a Calvary, and the roof

ooked out from the grating. The servant said a word or two; the face disappeared, and a moment later there was the turning of a key, and one leaf of the horse-entrance rolled back. Chris touch

of the Cellarer's offices, with the kitchen jutting out at the lower end, and the high-pitched refectory roof above and beyond it. The church was full of golden light as he entered, darkening to dusk in the chapels on either side, pricked with lights here and there that burned before the images, and giving an impression of immense height owing to its narrowness and its length. The air was full

found his way, signing himself first from the stoup at the door, and inclinin

d there was no western window; the glare from the white roads, too, along which he had come still dazz

*

behind. The image of St. Pancras himself stood against a pillar with the light from the lamp beneath flickering against his feet. But Christopher's eyes soon came back to the centre, beyond the screen, where a row of blackness on either side in the stalls, marked where the monks rested back, and where he would soon be resting with them. There were candles lighted at sparse intervals along the book-rests, that shone up into the faces bent down over the wide

his ears grew accustomed to the so

tres meos et proximos meos:" came back the answer, "loquebar pacem de t

nks rose to their feet, and in double volume fr

hat he had felt pulsating round him as he swam in the starlight a month before. It was this that was reality, and the rest illusion. Here was the end for which man was made, the direct praise of God; here were living souls eager and alert on the busine

acristan was going round putting out the lights; and then he too rose and went out, thrilled and exci

nd the two went up the stairs at the porter's directions into the parlour

at down in th

one a few minutes before, and Christopher presently saw him returning with Dom Anthony Marks, the guest-master, whom he had got to know very well on former visits. In a fit of shyness he drew back from the window, and stood up, nervous and trembling, and a

lding out his hands, and Chris took

eet, as if he had an hour at his disposal. Chris had noticed before that extraordinary appearance of ease and leisure in such monks, and it imperceptibly soothed him. Neither would Dom Anthony

s sent in to-day. And you, Chris, are you hungry? Supper will be here

ully about the commissioners who had come from Cluny to see a

oured for claret at first, and we had to give him some. But he knows better now. But he says

friendships multiplied, enmities lessened, God honoured, and charity increased." He recognised perfectly well the confused terror in Christopher's mind and his anxiety to make a good beginning, and smo

lack frock girded with the leather belt, and the scapular over it, hanging to the ground before and behind. His hood, Christopher noticed, was creased and flat as if he were accustomed to sit back at his ease. He wore strong black lea

was eyeing him, and put his hand in fr

lin looked it out to-day, and asked me whether it would

a footstep outside, an

ely noticed before, was furnished plainly and efficiently, and had just that touch of ornament that was intended to distinguish it from a cell. The floor was strewn with clean rushes; a couple of iron candlesticks stood on the mantelpiece, and the white walls had one or two religio

able, took up a knife and rubbed it del

other; but with an iron bedstead in the corner, a kneeling stool beside it, with a little French silver image of St. Mary over it, and a sprig of dried yew tucked in behind. A th

dding to the press beside which lay the two tr

said Christopher. "Ralph ha

ly like a bribe." And he nodded again with a beaming fac

hem down, and the straw rustled drily beneath; glanced into the sweating earthenware ju

" he sai

when he came back into the sitting-room found the candles lighted, the wooden shutters folded over the windows,

before compline. My Lord Prior will see you to-morrow

he could need, he was gone, leisurely and chee

ng to feel strangely at home already; the bean soup was strong and savoury, the beer cool; and he was pleasantly exercised by his ride. Mr. Morris, too, in answer to his enquiries, said that he had been well looked after in the servants' quarters of the guest-house, and

r," he said, and shook w

*

and after hospitable enquiries, sat down by Chris

was said at seven, and was followed by the Missa familiaris for the servants and work-people of the house. Breakfast would be ready in the guest-house at eight; the chapter-mass would be said at the half-hour and after the daily chapter w

ld have to remain in the guest-house before any formal step was taken

uest until Sunday, and on that day you will come to the morning chapter to beg for admissi

ooked at him with

y told him what he wished to know, though protesting

the hands crossed on the knees, so-" and he illustrated it by a gesture-"if it is a profound inclination; and when and where the inclinations are to be made. Then you will learn of the custody of the eyes. It is these little things that hel

nt upon minuti? that were both aids to, and the result of, a tranquil and recollected mind, the acquirement of which was part of the object of the monk's ambition. The ideal, he knew, was the perfect direction of every part of his being, of hands and eyes, as well as of the great powers of

y for compline, and the guest-master

s," he said. "Perhaps your servant will take

they walked together in silence up the paved walk to the west end of the church, a vivid picture rose before the young man's eyes of the little parlour where he had sat last night-of his silent mother in her black satin; his father in the tall chair, Ralph in an unwontedly easy and genial mood lounging on the other side and telling stories of town, of t

thin his own for a moment and held it, and Chris saw t

you, Chri