"
"It struck me," Mark went on, "that most of our paying guests are
gyrovagues and sarabaites."
"What an accusation to make," said Brother Nicholas, flushing with
expectant curiosity and looking down his long nose to give the
impression that it was the blush of innocence and modesty.
When, an hour or so later, he had had leisure to discover the meaning of
both terms, he came up to Mark and exclaimed:
"Oh, brother, how could you?"
"How could I what?" Mark asked.
"How could you let me think that it meant something much worse? Why,
it's nothing really. Just wandering monks."
"They annoyed our Holy Father," said Mark.
"Yes, they did seem to make him a bit ratty. Perhaps the translation
softened it down," surmised Brother Nicholas. "I'll get a dictionary
to-morrow."
The bell for solemn silence clanged, and Brother Nicholas must have
spent his quarter of an hour in most unprofitable meditation.
Another addition to the buildings was a wide, covered verandah, which
had been built on in front of the central block, and which therefore
extended the length of the Refectory, the Library, the Chapter Room, and
the Abbot's Parlour. The last was now the Prior's Parlour, because
lodgings for Father Burrowes were being built in the Gatehouse, the only
building of stone that was being erected.
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