"No, I'm certainly not, Reverend Brother, unless you put me under
obedience to do so."
"Then I think I shall," the Prior laughed.
"If you do, Reverend Brother," the gardener retorted, "you'll have to
put my peas under obedience to sow themselves."
"Peas!" the Prior scoffed. "Who cares about peas?"
"Oh, Reverend Brother!" cried Brother Simon, his hair standing up with
excitement. "We couldn't do without peas."
Brother Simon was assistant cook nowadays, a post he filled tolerably
well under the supervision of the one-legged soldier who was cook.
"We couldn't do without oats," said Brother Birinus severely.
He spoke so seldom at these gatherings that when he did few were found
to disagree with him, because they felt his words must have been deeply
pondered before they were allowed utterance.
"Have you any flowers in the garden for St. Joseph?" asked Brother
Raymond, who was sacristan.
"A few daffodils, that's all," Brother Giles replied.
"Oh, I don't think that St. Joseph would like daffodils," exclaimed
Brother Raymond. "He's so fond of white flowers, isn't he?"
"Good gracious!" the Prior thundered. "Are we a girls' school or a
company of able-bodied men?"
"Well, St. Joseph is always painted with lilies, Reverend Brother," said
the sacristan, rather sulkily.
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