"The monks of this priory."
"I am sure I don't know. I forget. What was the difference?"
"You know there were many orders of religious houses. The Augustines were less severe in their rule, and more genial in their allowed way of life, than most of the others?"
"What was their rule?"
"Beginning with discontent of the world, you know, they went on with the principle that nothing worldly was good."
"Well, isn't that the principle of all religious people now?"
"I like violets"—said the young man, smiling again.
"But do tell me, what did those old monks do? What was their 'rule?' I don't know anything about it, nor about them."
"Another old discontented soldier, who founded an abbey in Wales, is said by the historian to have dismissed all his former companions, and devoted himself to God. For his military belt, he tied a rope about his waist; instead of fine linen he put on haircloth. And it is recorded of him, that the massive suit of armour which he had been used to wear in battle, to protect him against the arrows and spears and axes of the enemy, he put on now and wore as a defence against the wiles and assaults of the devil—and wore it till it rusted away with age."
"Poor old soul!" said Eleanor.