"I wonder what name they will give it when it is finished?" he said, half aloud, as he paused in front of the building that was now well on its way to completion.
"Oh, it will be 'Cardinal College' or 'Wolsey College,' of course, as it is being built for the honour and glory of our great Chancellor," remarked a stranger who stood near.
But before Miles could reply he was pushed aside by a party of workmen, bearing some heavy slabs of stone, which they seemed to be very careful should not be damaged, and to his great surprise he recognised Rankin as one of the party.
The man was too intent upon preserving from damage the stone that he was carrying to notice Miles, but he saw that already the man's whole aspect had undergone a change, and he followed until the stone was set down, and Rankin was free to stretch himself and say a word as he walked back to fetch the next load.
"Why, Rankin, how is this?" asked Miles, in a tone of pleased surprise.
"Aye, Master Miles, you may well say, 'How is this?' God and the Blessed Virgin be thanked! for I never expected such good luck would come to me, I can tell you."
"Aye, you have got work I can see. But will it last beyond the day?"
"Oh, yes, I hope so. You see they are pulling down the monastery away yonder to build this new college, and some of the stones they are moving now are delicately carved, and need careful handling, as well as a strong man to do it. This morning there was an accident—one of the stones got damaged, and one of the men hurt, and, as I was near, I lent a hand to save the poor fellow from being crushed. One of the master masons saw me do it, and when the injured man had been carried to the convent for the monks to nurse him, he asked if I would take his place, as I seemed a strong man and able to handle the stones. So here I am, and I hope I shall stay here, and be able to help my poor wife and children to something better than a home in a cave before the winter quite settles down upon us."
"Aye, that would be a blessing indeed," said Miles, warmly, "worth being taken prisoner and robbed," laughed he. "I wonder you have not tried to get work before, Rankin," he added.
"Tried! Master Miles, I have almost gone down on my knees when I have been asking for work," said the man, earnestly. "I suppose the Lord sent it just now, because He knows I can't go back to the woods for a living. But there's my poor wife to be thought of still."