overmastered by nameless fear, sprang up and prayed that he might
stay and learn some other way, however hard. The Prior shook his
head.

"Nay, my son, so it must be; else how shall I answer to the Master
for this most precious lamb of my flock? Come back to us--an thou
can'st--let no fear deter thee; only take heed, when thine eyes are
opened and the great gifts of hunger and love are vouchsafed thee,
to keep still the faithful heart of a little child."

Then he bade him go; and Hilarius, for the pull of his heart-
strings, must needs run hot-foot down the broad forest road and
along the highway, without daring to look back, and so out into the
wide, wide world.



CHAPTER III--THE KING'S SONG-BIRD



Martin the Minstrel sat under a wayside oak singing softly to
himself as he tuned his vielle. He was a long lanky fellow with
straight black locks flat against his sallow face, and dark eyes
that smouldered in hollow cavities. He wore the King's colours,
and broke a manchet of white bread with his mid-day repast.

"Heigh-ho!" sighed Martin, and laid the vielle lovingly beside him,
"another four leagues to Westminster, and I weary enough of shoe-
leather already, and not another penny piece in my pocket 'til I