The monastery; The abbot.

THE MONASTERY. 143
I hope you'll give me cause to think you noble.
And do me right with your sword, sir, as becomes
One gentleman of honour to another;
All this is fair, sir-let us make no days on't,
I'll lead your way.
LOVE'S PILGRIMAGE.
THE look and sign of warning which the Sub-Prior gave to Halbert Glen.dinning as they parted, went to his heart; for although he had profited
much less than Edward by the good man's instructions, he had a sincere
reverence for his person; and even the short time he had for deliberation
tended to show him he was embarked in a perilous adventure. The nature
of the provocation which he had given to Sir Piercie Shafton he could not
even conjecture; but he saw that it was of a mortal quality, and he was
now to abide the consequences.
That he might not force these consequences forward by any premature
renewal of their quarrel, he resolved to walk apart for an hour, and consider
on what terms he was to meet this haughty foreigner. The time seemed
propitious for his doing so without having the appearance of wilfully shunning the stranger, as all the members of the little household were dispersing
either to perform such tasks as had been interrupted by the arrival of the
dignitaries, or to put in order what had been deranged by their visit.
Leaving the tower, therefore, and descending, unobserved as he thought,
the knoll on which it stood, Halbert gained the little piece of level ground
which extended betwixt the descent of the hill, and the first sweep made by
the brook after washing the foot of the eminence on which the tower was
situated, where a few straggling birch and oak-trees served to secure him
froln observation. But scarcely had he reached the spot, when he was
surprised to feel a smart tap..upon the shoulder, and, turning around, he
perceived he had been closely followed by Sir Piercie Shafton.
When, whether from our state of animal spirits, want of confidence in
the justice of our cause, or any other motive, our own courage happens to
be in a wavering condition, nothing tends so much altogether to disconcert
us, as a great appearance of promptitude on the part of our antagonist.
Halbert Glendinning, both morally and constitutionally intrepid, was nevertheless somewhat troubled at seeing the stranger, whose resentment he had
provoked, appear at once before him, and with an aspect which boded hostility. But though his heart might beat somewhat thicker, he was too highspirited to exhibit any external signs of emotion. -" What is your pleasure,
Sir Piercie?" he said to the English knight, enduring without apparent
discomposure all the terrors which his antagonist had summoned into his
aspect.
" What is my pleasure?" answered Sir Piercie; " a goodly question after
the part you have acted towards me!-Young man, I know not what
infatuation has led thee to place thyself in direct and insolent opposition to
one who is a guest of thy liege-lord the Abbot, and who, even from the
courtesy due to thy mother's roof, had a right to remain there without
meeting insult. Neither do I ask, or care, by what means thou hast become
possessed of the fatal secret by which thou hast dared to offer me open
shame. But I must now tell thee, that the possession of it has cost thee
thy life."
"Not, I trust, if my hand and sword can defend it," replied Halbert,
boldly.
"True," said the Englishman, "I mean not to deprive thee of thy fair