The monastery; The abbot.

I70 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
of God's church, and usurpers of his rights over the Christian flock, were it
given in Christian charity."
" And who or what art thou, then," said Avenel, " that thou comest to this
Border land, and art neither monk, nor soldier, nor broken man?"
" I am an humble teacher of the holy word," answered Warden. " This
letter from a most noble person will speak why I am here at this present
time."
He delivered the letter to the Baron, who regarded the seal with some
surprise, and then looked on the letter itself, which seemed to excite still
more. He then fixed his eyes on the stranger, and said, in a menacing tone,
"I think thou darest not betray me or deceive me?"
" I am not the man to attempt either," was the concise reply.
Julian Avenel carried the letter to the window, where he perused, or
at least attempted to peruse it more than once, often looking from the paper
and gazing on the stranger who had delivered it, as if he meant to read the
purport of the missive in the face of the messenger. Julian at length called
to the female,-" Catherine, bestir thee, and fetch me presently that letter
which I bade thee keep ready at hand in thy casket, having no sure lockfast
place of my own."
Catherine went with the readiness of one willing to be employed; and as
she walked, the situation which requires a wider gown and a longer girdle,
and in which woman claims from man a double portion of the most anxious
care, was still more visible than before. She soon returned with the paper,
and was rewarded with a cold —" I thank thee, wench; thou art a careful
secretary."
This second paper he also perused and reperused more than once, and
still, as he read it, bent from time to time a wary and observant eye upon
Henry Warden. This examination and re-examination, though both the
man and the place were dangerous, the preacher endured with the most
composed and steady countenance, seeming, under the eagle, or rather the
vulture eye of the baron, as unmoved as under the gaze of an ordinary and
peaceful peasant. At length Julian Avenel folded both papers, and having
put them into the pocket of his cloak, cleared his brow, and, coming forward,
addressed his female companion. " Catherine," said he, "I have done this
good man injustice, when I mistook him for one of the drones of Rome.
HIe is a preacher, Catherine-a preacher of the - the new doctrine of the
Lords of the Congregation."
"The doctrine of the blessed Scriptures," said the preacher, "purified
from the devices of men."
" Sayest thou?" said Julian Avenel -"Well, thou mayest call it what
thou lists; but to me it is recommended, because it flings off all those sottish
dreams about saints and angels and devils, and unhorses lazy monks that
have ridden us so long, and spur-galled us so hard. No more masses and
corpse-gifts —no more tithes and offerings to make men poor —no more
prayers or psalms to make men cowards-no more christenings and penances,
and confessions and marriages."
"So please you," said Henry Warden, "it is against the corruptions, not
against the fundamental doctrines, of the church, which we desire to renovate, and not to abolish.".
"Prithee, peace, man," said the Baron; "we of the laity care not what
you set up, so you pull merrily down what stands in our way. Specially it
suits well with us of the Southland fells; for it is our profession to turn the
world upside down, and we live ever the blithest life when the downer side
is uppermost."
Warden would have replied; but the Baron allowed him not time, striking
the table with the hilt of his dagger, and crying out, —" Ha! you loitering
knaves, bring our supper-meal quickly. See you not this holy man is