eldest Eleanor, fairest of them all, of whom men say she would fain
be a nun. Thou art a pretty lad, I wager one or other will claim
thee for page."

"I will strive to serve well," said Hilarius soberly, "but I have
never spoken but to one maid 'til yesterday, when a woman gave me
good-morrow."

Martin looked at his companion queerly.

"And thou art for Westminster! Nay, but by all the Saints this
Prior of thine is a strange master!"

"It is but for a time," said Hilarius, "then I shall go back to the
Monastery again. But first I would learn to be a real limner; I
have some small skill with the brush," he added simply.

Martin stared.

"Back to the cloister? Nay, lad, best turn about and get back now,
not wait till thou hast had a taste of Court life. Joust and
banquet and revel, revel, banquet, and joust, much merry-making and
little reason, much love and few marryings: a gay round, but not
such as makes a monk."

Hilarius smiled.

"Nay, that life will not be for me. I am to serve my lord, write
for him, methinks. But tell me, good Martin, dost thou love the
Court? It seems a fine thing to be the King's Minstrel."