Chapter XXXI
At school I knew him—a sharp-witted youth,
Grave, thoughtful, and reserved among his mates,
Turning the hours of sport and food to labour,
Starving his body to inform his mind.
Old Play.
The sub-prior, at the Borderer's request, had not failed to return to the tower, into which he was followed by Christie of the Clinthill, who, shutting the door of the apartment, drew near, and began his discourse with great confidence and familiarity.
'My master,' he said, 'sends me with his commendations to you, sir sub-prior, above all the community of Saint Mary's, and more specially than even to the abbot himself; for though he be termed my lord and so forth, all the world knows that you are the tongue of the trump.'
'If you have aught to say to me concerning the community,' said the sub-prior, 'it were well you proceeded in it without further delay. Time presses, and the fate of young Glendinning dwells on my mind.'
'I will be caution for him, body for body,' said Christie. 'I do protest to you, as sure as I am a living man, so surely is he one.'
'Should I not tell his unhappy mother the joyful tidings? 'said Father Eustace—'and yet better wait till they return from searching the grave. Well, sir jackman, your message to me from your master?'
'My lord and master,' said Christie, 'hath good reason to believe that, from the information of certain back friends whom he will reward at more leisure, your reverend community hath been led to deem him ill attached to Holy Church, allied with heretics and those who favour heresy, and a hungerer after the spoils of your abbey.'
'Be brief, good henchman,' said the sub-prior, 'for the devil is ever most to be feared when he preacheth.'
'Briefly, then—my master desires your friendship; and to excuse himself from the maligner's calumnies, he sends to your abbot that Henry Warden, whose sermons have
