ts for their day's journey with ample provision.
She charged them to be good lads, to say their Pater, Credo, and Ave
daily, and never omit Mass on a Sunday. They kissed her like their
mother and promised heartily--and Stephen took his crossbow. They had
had some hope of setting forth so early as to avoid all other _human_
farewells, except that Ambrose wished to begin by going to Beaulieu to
take leave of the Father who had been his kind master, and get his
blessing and counsel. But Beaulieu was three miles out of their way,
and Stephen had not the same desire, being less attached to his
schoolmaster and more afraid of hindrances being thrown in their way.

Moreover, contrary to their expectation, their elder brother came forth,
and declared his intention of setting them forth on their way, bestowing
a great amount of good advice, to the same purport as that of nurse
Joan, namely, that they should let their uncle Richard Birkenholt find
them some employment at Winchester, where they, or at least Ambrose,
might even obtain admission into the famous college of Saint 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!"

"Thy wife will soon, if she hath not already."

"Thou wil