It was the stern figure of the earl who stood unobserved in the
doorway of the library.

Hubert hung his head.

"Obedience!"

"And know this," added the speaker, "that learning distinguishes
the man from the brute, as religion distinguishes him from the
devil."

The two medieval boys, with the story of whose lives this veracious
chronicle concerns itself, were indeed singularly unlike in their
tastes and dispositions.

Martin seemed destined by nature for the life of the cloister, the
home of learning and contemplation in those days, wherein alone
were libraries to be found, and peaceful hours to devote to their
perusal. He learned his lessons with such avidity as to surprise
and delight his teacher, his leisure hours were spent in the
library of the castle--for Kenilworth had a library of manuscripts
under Simon de Montfort--a long low room on an upper floor, one end
of which was boarded off as a chamber for the chaplain, who was of
course also librarian. And again, he evinced a joy in the services
of the castle chapel which sufficiently marked his vocation. The
earl was both devout and musical, and the solemn tones of the
Gregorian Church Modes were rendered with peculiar force by the
deep voices of the men, for which they seemed chiefly designed. As
Martin listened, he became aware of sensations and ideas which he