serve to make a crimson like it. Thinning it, the painter could make pink.
There was no vermilion to be had, and red lead must be used for that color
and made by roasting white lead. The white lead was prepared by putting
sheets of lead in vats of grape skins when the wine had been crushed out
of them. Copper soaked in fermenting grape skins would make green, saffron
made it a yellower green,--and saffron was grown on the Abbey land--cedar
balsam would make it more transparent. Brother Basil was always trying
experiments. He was always glad to see a new plant or mineral which might
possibly give him a new color.

In all this Padraig was extremely useful. He made friends with a smith who
had a forge and furnace miles away, and wheedled him into lending them the
furnace for the roasting of metals. He ranged the woods and cliffs all
around the Abbey in search of plants, shrubs, trees and minerals. His
knowledge of the country saved Brother Basil many a weary tramp, and he
always took Padraig with him when he went looking for any especial thing
that was needed.

It was some time, however, before Padraig learned what Brother Basil
needed most of all. Now that the work of the scriptorium was coming to be
known, orders were received for splendidly illuminated missals and other
volumes, for which gilding was necessary. The brilliant colors would lose
half their beauty without the decorative touches of gilding to set them
off. And gold was costly.

"Where do men get gold?" Padraig asked one day.

"Out of the earth," answered Brother Basil absently.

"I mean," said Padraig hesitating, "what is it like when it is in the