college of St. Mary.

In fact, this excellent elder brother persuaded himself that it
would be doing them an absolute wrong to keep such promising youths
hidden in the Forest.

The purpose of his going thus far with them made itself evident. It
was to see them past the turning to Beaulieu. No doubt he wished to
tell the story in his own way, and that they should not present
themselves there as orphans expelled from their father's house. It
would sound much better that he had sent them to ask counsel of
their uncle at Winchester, the fit person to take charge of them.
And as he represented that to go to Beaulieu would lengthen their
day's journey so much that they might hardly reach Winchester that
night, while all Stephen's wishes were to go forward, Ambrose could
only send his greetings. There was another debate over Spring, who
had followed his master as usual. John uttered an exclamation of
vexation at perceiving it, and bade Stephen drive the dog back. "Or
give me the leash to drag him. He will never follow me."

"He goes with us," said Stephen.

"He! Thou'lt never have the folly! The old hound is half blind and
past use. No man will take thee in with him after thee."

"Then they shall not take me in," said Stephen. "I'll not leave him
to be hanged by thee."

"Who spoke of hanging him!"