The Kings Sons | Page 9

a portion of a chant whose sweet deep tones
seemed to chain the boy to the spot, as he listened with a very
pleasurable sensation, and watched the monk busily turning a big
flattened pebble stone round and round as if grinding something black
upon a square of smoothly-polished slab.
Alfred watched eagerly, and his eyes wandered about the cell-like room
devoted to Swythe--a very plain and homely place, with a stool or two
and a large table beneath the window, while one side was taken up by
the simple pallet upon which the monk slept.
All at once the chanting ceased, the grinding came to an end, and, as if
conscious of someone being in the room, the monk turned his head,
saw Alfred watching him, and smiled sadly.
"Ah, my son," he said; "back from the chase so soon?"
"No," said Alfred huskily. "I did not go."
"Not go?" said the monk, in surprise. "How was that? Ah! I see," he

continued, for the boy was silent, "you and Ethelbald have quarrelled."
"No, indeed," cried Alfred, and then he stopped. The monk went on
without looking, passing the pebble slowly round and round upon the
slab, grinding up what looked like thin glistening black paste.
"Then why did you stay behind?" said the monk gravely.
"Because--because--because--oh, don't ask me!" cried the boy
passionately.
Swythe fixed his eyes gently and kindly upon the boy, and left off
grinding.
"Tell me why, Fred, my son," he said softly.
"Because of what Bald said and what you said; and then I went in and
saw my mother, and she is so unhappy; and--and--"
Then, with a wild and passionate outburst, the boy made a dash at the
old man and caught him by the shoulder, as he cried:
"Oh, Father Swythe, I do want to learn to read and to write, and be
what you said. Please forgive me and help me, and I will try so hard--so
very, very hard!"
"My son!" cried the monk, in a choking voice, and, as the boy was
drawn tightly to the old man's breast and he hid his face so that his tears
should not be seen, something fell pat upon the back of his head,
making him look up quickly, to see that he need not feel ashamed of his
own, for his tutor's tears were falling slowly, though there was a
contented look in the old man's face.
"Yes," he said, smiling, "you have made me cry, my boy; but it is
because you have made me happy. You have taught me that I have
touched your young heart and opened the bright well-spring of the true
and good that is in your nature. Fred, my boy," he continued, "you are
too young to know it, so I will tell you: my son, you have just done

something that is very brave and true."
"I?" cried the boy passionately, as he turned away his head. "I have
behaved ill to you who have always been so kind and good, and made
my mother weep for me when she is in such dreadful trouble without."
"And then, my boy, you have come straight to me, your teacher--the
poor, weak, humble servant of his master, who has always striven to
lead you in the right way--and thrown yourself upon my breast and
owned your fault. That is what I mean by saying you have done a very
brave thing, my boy. There, and so you will try now?"
The last words came with a bright and cheerful ring, as Swythe released
the boy and sat back smiling at him and looking proudly into his eyes.
"And so you want to learn to read and write and grow into a wise man
who may some day rule over this land?"
"Oh, I want to learn!" cried the boy, dashing away his last tears. "I want
to be wise and great; but oh, no: I don't want to rule and be King. I
want father to live till I am quite an old man."
"I hope he will!" said Swythe, smiling, and nodding his head pleasantly,
as the boy hurriedly turned the conversation by asking:
"What are you doing there?"
"Making some fresh ink, my boy," was the reply.
"Ink? How?"
"Hah!" cried the monk, chuckling pleasantly; "now the vessel is opened
and eager for the knowledge to be poured in. Question away, Fred, my
son, and mine shall be the task to pour the wisdom in--as far as I have
it," he added, with a sigh.
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Alfred stood at the great entrance late that afternoon when the loud

barking of the dogs told of the young hunters' return, and as soon as
they came in sight Red cried:
"There, I told you so; Fred's along with