“Nay,” said Wat, scratching his head, “but the stone is hard.”
“Thou shalt spend thy next holiday in finding out whether it be hard or not,” said Elyas, angrily, “an thou be not more careful. How now, Hugh, what work have they set thee to?”
The good man’s heart melted as he looked at the boy, who seemed a sad little figure among the others. He had got into a far corner, and Agrippa peered down from a rafter in the shed.
“Why art thou in this dark corner by thyself?” demanded Elyas.
“They like not Agrippa, sir,” said Hugh, listlessly.
Elyas looked vexed. His wife was also sorely set against the monkey, and he would gladly have had it away, yet he could not find it in his heart to deprive the boy of his only friend. He stood awhile watching Hugh work, and presently went across to Franklyn.
“See that no harm comes to the monkey,” he said in a tone which all might hear; then, in a much lower voice, “that is hard work thou hast set him to do.”
“He must learn his craft,” said Franklyn, gruffly.
“But he is a little urchin.”
“The more need he should begin at the beginning.”