"Yes, it bath fallen out sorely awry that you should be hurt at this time, and perchance some of those witless knaves may have had a hand in it."
"No, no, it was a fellow-student who struck me down," said Miles, quickly.
His mother waved her hand in deprecation of the interruption.
"It is not seemly to speak thus to me," she said. "Hear what I have to say. There is talk of witchcraft being at work, for it is passing strange that you and my poor John should both be struck down. But I shall pay little heed to such talk if you prove to us that you are not bewitched."
"How can I prove this, my mother?" asked Miles, seeing she waited for him to answer.
"How? By acting as an obedient son should to a loving father and mother. You know what I mean, Miles; John's signature would have been affixed to these parchments if he had lived a day longer. It was only the illness of Father Ralph that delayed their being signed a month before, and therefore I desire that you shall do without question what your brother would have done gladly."
"Will you tell me what these parchments are, and all about them?"
But the lady was saved from doing this by the announcement that Father Ralph had come, and was waiting to see Sir Thomas.
"Send him in here," said Lady Paton, and at the same moment she rose and went out of the room.
Miles bowed to the holy father as he took his seat at the table.