my way; and
even yet do not know how near I am."

"Not an hour from the cursed place," said he, giving his student's cap,
which lay on the floor at his feet, a little kick.

"Then it agrees not with you?" said I.

"Agrees!" said he, and then dropped silent, far more eloquently than if
he had spoken a volume.

"Pray, sir," said I, after an awkward pause, "do you know one Master
Penry of Saint Alban Hall?"

He laughed at that.

"The Welshman? Verily, I know him. What do you want with him?"

"I am to deliver him a letter from my master. Can you take me to him?"

"No," said my companion, "for I shall never enter Oxford again."

"Is your term done, then?" I asked.

"For me it is," said he. "I have been here two months, and will have no
more of it."

"But are you free to leave?" I asked--for my curiosity was roused.

"Free!" said he: "I am here, that is enough. If my tutor come after me,
there will be two men who will never see Oxford again."

I pitied his tutor, whoever he was, when he said that.

"But where are you going then?" I asked.

"To-night I shall lie here. The man of the place is my friend, and will
shelter me, though I have nothing to pay him. To-morrow I shall take
the road."

Here our supper came in: a fine big trout from the river, and a dish
which mine host called mutton, but which I smelt to be venison.

It smote me to the heart to mark the struggle in my comrade's face to
keep down the ravenous joy which for a moment hailed the coming in of
these good things. But the ecstasy lasted only a moment, and when I
bade him fall to, he said indifferently he had no appetite and wanted
nothing.

"But it was a bargain," said I.

So he took a small helping. It plainly cut him to the quick to receive
hospitality from a 'prentice, and he would, I think, as soon have
starved, but for his promise.

I feigned not to notice what he took; yet I could not help marking the
hungry way in which he devoured what was on his platter. Then when it
was done, he rose and went to his seat at the fireplace, while I
finished my supper at the table.

Before I had done, I filled my cup, as was my wont, and drank to Her
Majesty, bidding my guest do the same.

He came gravely to the table at that, and filled a mug of ale to the
brim. "Here's to my Queen," said he.

This struck me as odd, for his tone and manner were as if he were
drinking to another toast than mine. Yet I did not dare to question hi