The monastery; The abbot.

IT HE MO NAS TE RY. 135
"A mees of broth and a dole of mutton or beef, at the Kitchener's, on
each high holiday," resumed the Kitchener.
" The gang of two cows and a palfrey on our Lady's meadow," answered
his brother officer.
"An ox-hide to make buskins of yearly, because of the brambles," echoed
the Kitchener.
"And various other perquisites, quce nunc prcescribere loqngum," said the
Abbot, summing, with his own lordly voice, the advantages attached to the
office of conventional bow-bearer.
Dame Glendinning was all this while on her knees, her head mechanically
turning from the one church officer to the other, which, as they stood one on
each side of her, had much the appearance of a figure moved by clock-work,
and so soon as they were silent, most devotedly did she kiss the munificent
hand of the Abbot. Conscious, however, of Halbert's intractability in some
points, she could not help qualifying her grateful and reiterated thanks for
the Abbot's bountiful proffer, with a hope that Halbert would see his wisdom,
and accept of it.
"How," said the Abbot, bending his brows, " accept of it?-Woman, is
thy son in his right wits?"
Elspeth, stunned by the tone in which this question was asked, was altogether unable to reply to it. Indeed, any answer she might have made
could hardly have been heard, as it pleased the two office-bearers of the
Abbot's table again to recommence their alternate dialogue.
"Refuse 1" said the Kitchener.
"Refuse!" answered the Refectioner, echoing the other's word in a tone
of still louder astonishment.
"Refuse four marks by the year!" said the one.
"Ale and beer-broth and mutton-cow's grass and palfrey's!" shouted
the Kitchener.
" Gown and galligaskins!" respond,ed the Refectioner.
"A moment's patience, my brethren," answered the Sub-Prior, "and let
us not be thus astonished before cause is afforded of our amazement. This
good dame best knoweth the temper and. spirit of her son-this much I can
say, that it lieth not towards letters or learning, of which I have in vain
endeavoured to instil into him some tincture. Nevertheless, he is a youth
of no common spirit, but much like those (in my weak judgment) whom
God raises up among a people when he meaneth that their deliverance shall
be wrought out with strength of hand and valour of heart. Such men we
have seen marked with a waywardness, and even an obstinacy of character,
which hath appeared intractability and stupidity to those among whom they
walked and were conversant, until the very opportunity hath arrived in
which it was the will of Providence that they should be the fitting instrument of great things."
"Now, in good time hast thou spoken, Father Eustace," said the Abbot;
"and we will see this swankie before we decide upon the means of employing
him. —How say you, Sir Piercie Shafton, is it not the court fashion to suit
the man to the office, and not the office to the man?"
"So please your reverence and lordship," answered the Northumbrian
knight, "I do partly, that is, in some sort, subscribe to what your wisdom
hath delivered-Nevertheless, under reverence of the Sub-Prior, we do not
look for gallant leaders and national deliverers in the hovels of the mean
common people. Credit me, that if there be some flashes of martial spirit
about this young person, which I am not called upon to dispute, (though I
have seldom seen that presumption and arrogance were made good upon the
upshot by deed and action,) yet still-these will prove insufficient to distinguish him, save in his own limited and lowly sphere-even as the glowworm,
-which makes a goodly show among the grass of the field, would be of little:avail if deposited in a beacon-grate.'