On the contrary, little Martin, who could not yet read a line, was throwing the whole deep earnestness of an active intellect into the work.
“Courage! little friend,” said the chaplain, “and thou wilt do as well as the wisest here, only be not impatient or discouraged.”
And to Hubert he said one day:
“This hardly represents your best work, my son, you did better even yesterday.”
Hubert tossed his head.
“Martin cares only for books—I want to learn better things; he may be a monk, I will be a soldier.”
“And dost thou know,” said a deep voice, “what is the first duty of a soldier?”
It was the stern figure of the earl who stood unobserved in the doorway of the library.
Hubert hung his head.
“Obedience!”