his companion.

"Here is a young novice I have brought to learn the noble art of
merrymaking, of wine and wassail. We have both been literally starved at
the palace--I should say monastery--of Monk Edred today. It is
Friday, and we have been splendidly dining upon salt fish served up on
golden salvers. My goodness! the flavour of that precious cod is yet in
my mouth. Food for cats, I do assure you, and served up to kings. What
did you think of it, Elfric?"

Elfric was ashamed to say that it had not been so very bad after all.
Truth to say his conscience was uneasy, for he had been brought up to
respect the fasts of the Church, and he saw a trial awaiting him in the
luscious dishes before him.

"What does it matter?" the reader may exclaim; "it is not that which
goeth into the mouth which defileth a man," etc.

True, most wise critic, but it is that which goeth out; and if
disobedience be not amongst the evils which defile, then Adam did not
fall in Paradise when he ate the forbidden fruit. Elfric could not touch
flesh on fast days without the instinctive feeling that he was doing
wrong, and no one can sin against the conviction of the heart without
danger.

The party now seated themselves, and without any grace or further
preface the feast began. Servants appeared and served up the most
exquisite dishes, of a delicacy almost unknown in England at that day,
and poured rich wines into silver goblets. It was evident that wealth
abounded in the family they were visiting, and that they had expended it