"It’s great sport your coming just now. Dicky and I are a match for Bowerman together, but that great lout Willie Newenhall just turns the balance. He’s a mortal coward by himself, but with Bowerman to back him, his fat weight is too much for us; but now you, with your stout limbs and big body, could beat them both single-handed. Do you ever get into a rage?" said Maurice. "No, not often," said Ralph, laughing. "I was always told to keep my temper. Now, Jasper, he often lost his, and so I thrashed him at most things." "Ah!" said Maurice, sighing, "I wish I could keep mine. I do get so mad when Bowerman sneers at me." And so the boys wiled away the time until Humphrey came back with one of the servants of the Abbot of Quarr, and a grave ecclesiastic, who was the infirmarer of Hide Abbey. The boys, with the courtesy which was especially a part of their education, rose when they saw this dignified monk enter, and remained standing while he undid the bandages, and examined Ralph’s cut. "’Tis a light matter," he said to Humphrey; "thou canst tell my Lord Abbot he need be in no wise anxious--the boy will be healed by to-morrow. Thou hadst best keep quiet to-day, young master, and if thou hast a quiet night, thou mayest travel to-morrow whithersoever thou mindest. But drink but little wine, my son, for wine is heating for a wound, and may bring on fever." "May we offer thy Reverence a cup?" said Maurice Woodville. "Thank thee, fair sir, but I touch not wine, except it be ordered me." However, Humphrey and the lay brother had no such scruples, and quaffed off a cup each, directly Dicky offered it them. The two pages now took leave of Ralph, saying they must not tarry longer, as their lord would wish to hear how they had sped; but they promised to come again as soon as they could. When Humphrey and Ralph were alone, the latter said,-- "Humphrey, it seems years since I left home, and yet it was but four hours agone." "Ay, Master Ralph, time flies apace when one is busy." "Didst thou see to my horse?" "Trust me, Master Ralph; he’s ne’er a bit hurt, not even a scratch. He knocked over that bull like ninepins, so they tell me. But, marry, ’twas a mercy you didn’t get in front of him. You mustn’t be that rash again. Whatever would they have said to me up Thruxton way?" "Humphrey, I want you to see after that poor vagrant and his daughter. Mother was kind to them. I would like to help them over to the Isle of Wight, where they are going. You have seen to my pony?" "Not yet, but I will by-and-by." "Then take them this noble, ’twill help them to a night’s lodging and food," said Ralph shyly, drawing out a coin from his purse. Humphrey took it surlily. "I don’t know as how you did ought to go giving away your mother’s presents like this, Master Ralph; you’ll be wanting all your money among them gay springalds yonder, I’m thinking." "Nay, Humphrey, do my bidding," said Ralph quietly.