I honour
the lad for it. I protest I will abide here, and he shall aid me in
striking down a deer. I must needs be friends with him, and he be such
a shot: and we will speedily send down to my lord Abbot a buck of the
first head, killed so artificially as shall satisfy even the reverend
Kitchener."
This was said with such apparent ease and good-humour, that the Abbot
made no farther observation on what had passed, but proceeded to
acquaint his guest with the details of furniture, hangings,
provisions, and so forth, which he proposed to send up to the Tower of
Glendearg for his accommodation. This discourse, seasoned with a cup
or two of wine, served to prolong the time until the reverend Abbot
ordered his cavalcade to prepare for their return to the Monastery.
"As we have," he said, "in the course of this our toilsome journey,
lost our meridian, [Footnote: The hour of repose at noon, which, in
the middle ages, was employed in slumber, and which the monastic rules
of nocturnal vigils rendered necessary.] indulgence shall be given to
those of our attendants who shall, from very weariness, be unable to
attend the duty at prime, [Footnote: _Prime_ was the midnight
service of the monks.] and this by way of misericord or
_indulgentia._" [Footnote: _Misericord,_ according to the
learned work of Fosbrooke on British Monachism, meant not only an
indulgence, or exoneration from particular duties, but also a
particular apartment in a convent, where the monks assembled to enjoy
such indulgences or allowances as were granted beyond the rule.
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