y way, Master Forster," Roger replied
quickly, for he liked not the thought that he had gained any advantage,
whatever, from his stay in the convent. "It might likely be useful to a
man of small stature, whose thoughts would naturally turn to being a
scribe, and to making his living by such finicking ways instead of by
bearing himself as a man should; but for one like myself, 'tis but time
thrown away. Yet I say not that it may not be useful to Master Oswald,
who will some day be a knight, and go to court, and have occasion to
write letters, when he has no scribe at hand to do it for him; but a
good downright blow is more advantage, to the man that strikes it, than
all the book learning that he can get."

"I have done well enough without it, Roger; but I think that it must be
of some use, else why is it that Oswald is so good at devising plans?
Had I been in his place, when he heard the news of the harrying of
Hiniltie, and the carrying off of Armstrong's daughters, I should never
have thought of starting on such an adventure as he did."

"It may be that it may improve the mind, Master Forster, just as
wielding a mace strengthens the muscles of the arm. I only speak from
my own experience; and, so far as I can see, all the hours I spent on
these matters have been as good as wasted."

"Nay, Roger," Oswald, who had been an amused listener to the
conversation, broke in, "you have had evidence, but lately, that it is
not so. Had you not been able to read the priest's missal, he would
have seen, at once, that you were not a monk; but the fact that you did
so, and that much better and more fluently than he could, himself, have
read a strange manuscript, was to him a confirmation of your story;
which not only enabled us to rescue my cousins, but probably saved your
own skin, to say nothing of mine; for had Baird learned that you were
deceiving him, he would as likely as not have hung us both over the
gateway of his hold, as spies."

Roger scratched his head, in some embarrassment.

"I cannot gainsay it, Master Oswald, though I did not think of it
before; and it is certainly a proof that the time I spent in learning
was not thrown away; for, as you say, had I not been able to read that
missal, doubtless it would have gone hard with both of us. I am not
ashamed to own when I am wrong. It would not be English, or honest, not
to do so. Reading certainly came in mightily useful, there."

"And you must also remember, Roger," O