“Are you not strangers in this land?” asked the old man.
“Well, yes,” said the Professor, briskly, with a manifest purpose to be sociable; “we have just come ashore down here on the beach. Shipwrecked, in fact. This is my daughter. Let me introduce you. My child, allow me to make you acquainted with—with—beg pardon, but I think you did not mention your name.”
“I am known as Father Anselm.”
“Ah, indeed! Matilda, this is Father Anselm. A clergyman, I suppose?”
“I am a hermit; my cell is close at hand. You will be welcome there if you will visit it.”
“A hermit! Living in a cell! Well, this is surprising! We shall be only too happy to visit you, if you will permit us. Delightful, isn’t it, dear? We will obtain some valuable information from the old gentleman.”
The Hermit, with the pitcher poised upon his shoulder, led the way, and he was closely followed by the Professor and by Matilda, who regarded the proceeding rather with nervous apprehension. The Hermit’s cell was a huge cave, excavated from the side of a hill. The floor was covered with sprigs of fragrant evergreens. A small table stood upon one side of the apartment; beside it was a rough bench, which was the only seat in the room. A crucifix, a candle, a skull, an hour-glass, and a few simple utensils were the only other articles to be seen.
The Hermit brought forward the bench for his visitors to sit upon, and then, procuring a cup, he offered each a drink of water.
The Professor, hugging one knee with interlocked fingers, seemed anxious to open a conversation.
“Pardon me, sir, but do I understand that you are a clergyman; that is to say, some sort of a teacher of religion?”