"Nay. Should I so?" asked the boy doubtfully.
"Aye, for sure. Haste thee up the hill, for he went into the church but now."
And with a hasty farewell at last Lawrence ran off.
He found the priest pacing meditatively up and down the north aisle of the church, with folded arms and a very grave face.
"Didst seek me, my son?" he inquired, pausing as Lawrence came up and stood rather timidly at a little distance.
"An't please you, good Father, I go hence as to-morrow, and Philippa would have me ask you of your blessing ere I went."
"That shalt thou have, right heartily." And the thin white hand was laid on the child's head. "Our Lord bless thee, and make thee a blessing. May He be thy Guide and Shield and Comforter; yea, may He cover thee with His wings all the day long, and be unto thee a buckler from the face of evil. Lawrence, my son, I would fain have thy promise to a thing."
"What thing, Father?"
"Pass thy word to me, and never forget it, that in all thy life thou wilt never go any whither without asking our Lord to go with thee."
The priest had somewhat failed to realise the extreme youth and worse ignorance of the child to whom he was talking. The reply recalled him to these facts.