which she had been debarred all the time they had been on the move.
'So ill for both us and the lad,' she said.

Simon looked doubtful. 'If thou canst not save thy soul without,' he
said, 'thou mightst go on some feast day, when there is such a
concourse of folk that thou mightst not be noticed, and come away at
once without halting for idle clavers, as they call them here.'

'That's what the women folk are keen for with their church-going,'
said Hob with a grin.

'Now, husband, thou knowst,' said Dolly, injured, though she was more
than aware he spoke with intent to tease her. 'Have I not lived all
this while with none to speak to save thee and the blessed lads, and
never murmured.'

'Though thy tongue be sore for want of speech!' laughed Hob, 'thou
beest a good wife, Dolly, and maybe thy faithfulness will tell as
much in the saving of thy soul as going to church.'

'Nay, but,' said Hal with eagerness, 'is there not a priest?'

'The priest comes of a White Rose house--I trust not him. Ay,
goodwife, beware of showing thyself to him. I give him my dues, that
he may have no occasion against me or Sir Lancelot, but I would not
have him pry into knowledge that concerns him not.'

'Did not Sir Lancelot say somewhat of a scholarly hermit who might
learn me in what I ought to know?' asked the boy.