Part 6 (1/2)
So they slowly went out, leaving Geoffrey alone with his thoughts.
[Ill.u.s.tration]
[Ill.u.s.tration: ELAINE]
CHAPTER VI
Miss Elaine loses her Heart & finds Something of the greatest Importance.
[Ill.u.s.tration]
Down stairs the Grace was said, and the company was soon seated and ready for their mid-day meal.
”Our fare,” said Father Anselm pleasantly to Sir G.o.dfrey, who sat on his right, ”is plain, but substantial.”
”Oh--ah, very likely,” replied the Baron, as he received a wooden basin of black-bean broth.
”Our drink is----”
The Baron lifted his eye hopefully.
”----remarkably pure water,” Father Anselm continued. ”Clement!” he called to the monk whose turn it was that day to hand the dishes, ”Clement, a goblet of our well-water for Sir G.o.dfrey Disseisin. One of the large goblets, Clement. We are indeed favoured, Baron, in having such a pure spring in the midst of our home.”
”Oh--ah!” observed the Baron again, and politely nerved himself for a swallow. But his thoughts were far away in his own cellar over at Wantley, contemplating the casks whose precious gallons the Dragon had consumed. Could it be the strength of his imagination, or else why was it that through the chilling, unwelcome liquid he was now drinking he seemed to detect a lurking flavour of the very wine those casks had contained, his favourite Malvoisie?
Father Anselm noticed the same taste in his own cup, and did not set it down to imagination, but afterwards sentenced Brother Clement to bread and water during three days, for carelessness in not was.h.i.+ng the Monastery table-service more thoroughly.
”This simple food keeps you in beautiful health, Father,” said Mistletoe, ogling the swarthy face of the Abbot with an affection that he duly noted.
”My daughter,” he replied, gravely, ”bodily infirmity is the reward of the glutton. I am well, thank you.”
Meanwhile, Elaine did not eat much. Her thoughts were busy, and hurrying over recent events. Perhaps you think she lost her heart in the last Chapter, and cannot lose it in this one unless it is given back to her. But I do not agree with you; and I am certain that, if you suggested such a notion to her, she would become quite angry, and tell you not to talk such foolish nonsense. People are so absurd about hearts, and all that sort of thing! No: I do not really think she has lost her heart yet; but as she sits at table these are the things she is feeling:
1. Not at all hungry.
2. Not at all thirsty.
3. What a hateful person that Father Anselm is!
4. Poor, poor young man!
5. Not that she thinks of him in _that_ way, of course. The idea!
Horrid Father Anselm!
6. Any girl at all--no, not girl, _anybody_ at all--who had human justice would feel exactly as she did about the whole matter.
7. He was very good-looking, too.