“It is the _Vineyard_, lying in the pool and sailing day after to-morrow at dawn. The master, a young man, Diccon Wright, is beholden to me. I found him at the Golden Ship, and he will do it.” “Day after to-morrow at dawn.” “There is nothing for it,” said Bettany, “but that you should bide where you are through to-night and to-morrow. Then at eve I will come with a horse for you. Canst ride?” “Oh, aye!” “There is no moon. We make through country to pool side and find there a boat that Diccon sends. So the _Vineyard_ and away.” “You are good to me, brother!” The other answered, “I somehow owe it. And not to you only. But here only does it seem that I can pay.” He took from pack loaf of bread, pound of cheese and a bottle of ale. “Here we be! Nay, I have had dinner. Well, I will eat a little to keep you in countenance, Master Dawn!” They ate under the greenwood tree, close screened around with thorn and fern. “It will be cold to-night sleeping here. There is a loft at the farm. The old man and woman dodder and are blind and deaf. There is a straw bed. But strange and elfin were it, I think,” said Bettany slowly, “if you slept there.” “In old years I have slept out colder nights than this is like to be. And a cell is cold.” “Well, the cloak is thick. Nay, drink! I may have my fill when I get back to father’s house.” CHAPTER XXI Sun came more and more slanting through the trees. Eating was done. The two sat in forest light and coolness, and they went over plans step by step so that there might rest no misunderstanding nor any happening unprovided against. “The _Vineyard_ boat, and the word is ‘_Gold and silver_.’ South around Middle Forest and then east. Leave the ruined farm at dusk to-morrow.” “I have found a great hollow tree,” said Englefield and pointed to it. “If any come, in I creep!” “Good! Unless there are dogs,” Bettany said. With that he fell into silence. The other, half-reclining, also was silent. Gold light playing over him showed how gaunt he was and his face how lined and smitten. Bettany spoke. “Dost think True Religion has taken any hurt?” “How should True Religion take hurt, having been all the time in another country?” The young man mused. “To have thought one’s self Chosen out of all the world because of one’s qualities--and then to be thrown back, past one’s old dwelling, past, past, down past the whole world--” Richard Englefield spoke. “I looked on Medusa. Do you know what is that, to look on Medusa? And looking, to open on the knowledge that you yourself were the artist?” “Eh?” said Thomas Bettany. “But the first of it must have been glorious! Honey and kingship and worship and safety for aye!” “_Honey and kingship and worship and safety for aye._ Just that! Then the hair turned to snakes.” Silence in the forest. Bettany moved a little. “Friday. I suppose you are glad of Friday?” “What happeneth Friday?” “She burns at town cross. Morgen Fay.” “_What have I to do with that?_”