FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   68   69   70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90   91   92  
93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   >>   >|  
andish name. It's them little words that prayers begin with." "`_Deus, in adjutorium_,'" said Gerhardt quietly. Haimet seemed exceedingly amused. He had attended the schools long enough to learn Latin sufficient to interpret the common prayers and Psalms which formed the private devotions of most educated people. This was because his mother had wished him to be a priest. But having now, in his own estimation, arrived at years of discretion, he declined the calling chosen for him, preferring as he said to go into business, and he had accordingly been bound apprentice to a moneter, or money-changer. Poor Isel had mourned bitterly over this desertion. To her mind, as to that of most people in her day, the priesthood was the highest calling that could be attained by any middle-class man, while trade was a very mean and despicable occupation, far below domestic service. She recognised, however, that Haimet was an exception to most rules, and was likely to take his own way despite of her. Isel's own lack of education was almost as unusual as Haimet's possession of it. At that time all learning was in the hands of the clergy, the monastic orders, and the women. By the Joy, she meant the Doxology, the English version of which substituted "joy" for "glory;" while the _Adjutorium_ denoted the two responses which follow the Lord's Prayer in the morning service, "O God, make speed to save us," "O Lord, make haste to help us." "Can't you say _adjutorium_, Mother?" asked the irreverent youth. "No, lad, I don't think I can. I'll leave that for thee. One's as good as t'other, for aught I see." Haimet exploded a second time. "Good evening!" said Romund's voice, and a cloaked figure, on whose shoulders drops of rain lay glittering, came in at the door. "I thought you were not gone up yet, for I saw the light under the door. Derette, I have news for you. I have just heard that Saint John's anchoritess died yesterday, and I think, if you would wish it, that I could get the anchorhold for you. You may choose between that and Godstowe." Derette scarcely stood irresolute for a moment. "I should like the anchorhold best, Brother. Then Mother could come to me whenever she wanted me." "Is that the only reason?" asked Haimet, half laughing. "No, not quite," said Derette, with a smile; "but it is a good one." "Then you make up your mind to that?" questioned Romund. "Yes, I have made up my mind," replied De
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   68   69   70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90   91   92  
93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

Haimet

 

Derette

 

calling

 
Romund
 
anchorhold
 

service

 
Mother
 

adjutorium

 

people

 

prayers


exploded
 

figure

 

cloaked

 

evening

 

shoulders

 
thought
 

glittering

 

amused

 

exceedingly

 
irreverent

attended

 
quietly
 

Gerhardt

 

wanted

 

reason

 

andish

 

Brother

 
laughing
 

replied

 

questioned


anchoritess

 

yesterday

 

scarcely

 

Godstowe

 

irresolute

 

moment

 

choose

 

desertion

 

formed

 

bitterly


mourned

 

changer

 

private

 

Psalms

 

middle

 

interpret

 
priesthood
 

highest

 

common

 

attained