"I fear he did, my son."
Mr. Robesart said no more, but proceeded to his professional duties. When he had finished his examination of the patient, and had given his instructions to Mistress Grenestede—which involved some learned references to the occultation of certain beneficent planets by malevolent ones, and hints that the herbs prescribed were to be gathered with reference to the position of the sun with respect to the Zodiac—he called Lawrence out into the ante-chamber.
CHAPTER V.
A CHANGE IN ROGER'S DESTINY.
"We shall be together, my Lord and I,
While the crowds around us come and go;
When false hearts wander, and true hearts die,
My Friend will still be mine own, I know."
—SARAH DOUDNEY.
On the wide cushioned seat in the window, Mr. Robesart sat down, and Lawrence placed himself in front, waiting to be questioned. He had to wait in silence for a few moments, while the priest seemed lost in thought; then he turned back to the child.
"Now, my son, I would have some talk with thee. I am faint to find thou hast thought on my words at parting. Hast thou done them, Lawrence Madison?"
"Mean you, Father, if I have asked at our Lord that He would go with me whithersoever I went?"
"That mean I, my son."
"Aye, nearly alway, Father," said Lawrence, lifting a pair of honest eyes to his friend's face, and adding more shyly, "I forgat sometimes."