Credit me, that if there be some
flashes of martial spirit about this young person, which I am not
called upon to dispute, (though I have seldom seen that presumption
and arrogance were made good upon the upshot by deed and action,) yet
still these will prove insufficient to distinguish him, save in his
own limited and lowly sphere--even as the glowworm, which makes a
goodly show among the grass of the field, would be of little avail if
deposited in a beacon-grate."
"Now, in good time," said the Sub-Prior, "and here comes the young
huntsman to speak for himself;" for, being placed opposite to the
window, he could observe Halbert as he ascended the little mound on
which the tower was situated.
"Summon him to our presence," said the Lord Abbot; and with an
obedient start the two attendant monks went off with emulous
alertness. Dame Glendinning sprung away at the same moment, partly to
gain an instant to recommend obedience to her son, partly to prevail
with him to change his apparel before coming in presence of the Abbot.
But the Kitchener and Refectioner, both speaking at once, had already
seized each an arm, and were leading Halbert in triumph into the
apartment, so that she could only ejaculate, "His will be done; but an
he had but had on him his Sunday's hose!"
Limited and humble as this desire was, the fates did not grant it, for
Halbert Glendinning was hurried into the presence of the Lord Abbot
and his party, without a word of explanation, and without a moment's
time being allowed to assume his holiday hose, which, in the language
of the time, implied both breeches and stockings.
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