第32章

``Holyfather，’’saidtheknight，``uponwhosecountenanceithathpleasedHeaventoworksuchamiracle，permitasinfullaymantocravethyname?’’

``Thoumaystcallme，’’answeredthehermit，``theClerkofCopmanhurst，forsoIamtermedintheseparts——Theyadd，itistrue，theepithetholy，butIstandnotuponthat，asbeingunworthyofsuchaddition——Andnow，valiantknight，mayI

prayyeforthenameofmyhonourableguest?’’

``Truly，’’saidtheknight，``HolyClerkofCopmanhurst，mencallmeinthesepartstheBlackKnight，——many，sir，addtoittheepithetofSluggard，wherebyIamnowayambitioustobedistinguished。’’

Thehermitcouldscarcelyforbearfromsmilingathisguest’sreply。

``Isee，’’saidhe，``SirSluggishKnight，thatthouartamanofprudenceandofcounsel；andmoreover，Iseethatmypoormonasticfarelikestheenot，accustomed，perhaps，asthouhastbeen，tothelicenseofcourtsandofcamps，andtheluxuriesofcities；andnowIbethinkme，SirSluggard，thatwhenthecharitablekeeperofthisforest-walkleftthosedogsformyprotection，andalsothosebundlesofforage，heleftmealsosomefood，which，beingunfitformyuse，theveryrecollectionofithadescapedmeamidmymoreweightymeditations。’’

``Idarebeswornhedidso，’’saidtheknight；``I

wasconvincedthattherewasbetterfoodinthecell，HolyClerk，sinceyoufirstdoffedyourcowl——Yourkeeperiseverajovialfellow；andnonewhobeheldthygrinderscontendingwiththesepease，andthythroatfloodedwiththisungenialelement，couldseetheedoomedtosuchhorse-provenderandhorse-beverage，’’

(pointingtotheprovisionsuponthetable，)``andrefrainfrommendingthycheer。Letusseethekeeper’sbounty，therefore，withoutdelay。’’

Thehermitcastawistfullookupontheknight，inwhichtherewasasortofcomicexpressionofhesitation，asifuncertainhowfarbeshouldactprudentlyintrustinghisguest。Therewas，however，asmuchofboldfranknessintheknight’scountenanceaswaspossibletobeexpressedbyfeatures。

Hissmile，too，hadsomethinginitirresistiblycomic，andgaveanassuranceoffaithandloyalty，withwhichhishostcouldnotrefrainfromsympathizing。

Afterexchangingamuteglanceortwo，thehermitwenttothefurthersideofthehut，andopenedahutch，whichwasconcealedwithgreatcareandsomeingenuity。Outoftherecessesofadarkcloset，intowhichthisaperturegaveadmittance，hebroughtalargepasty，bakedinapewterplatterofunusualdimensions。Thismightydishheplacedbeforehisguest，who，usinghisponiardtocutitopen，lostnotimeinmakinghimselfacquaintedwithitscontents。

``Howlongisitsincethegoodkeeperhasbeenhere?’’saidtheknighttohishost，afterhavingswallowedseveralhastymorselsofthisreinforcementtothehermit’sgoodcheer。

``Abouttwomonths，’’answeredthefatherhastily。

``BythetrueLord，’’answeredtheknight，``everythinginyourhermitageismiraculous，HolyClerk！forIwouldhavebeenswornthatthefatbuckwhichfurnishedthisvenisonhadbeenrunningonfootwithintheweek。’’

Thehermitwassomewhatdiscountenancedbythisobservation；and，moreover，hemadebutapoorfigurewhilegazingonthediminutionofthepasty，onwhichhisguestwasmakingdesperateinroads；

awarfareinwhichhispreviousprofessionofabstinencelefthimnopretextforjoining。

``IhavebeeninPalestine，SirClerk，’’saidtheknight，stoppingshortofasudden，``andIbethinkmeitisacustomtherethateveryhostwhoentertainsaguestshallassurehimofthewholesomenessofhisfood，bypartakingofitalongwithhim。Farbeitfrommetosuspectsoholyamanofaughtinhospitable；neverthelessIwillbehighly