You have seen the cloisters; it were well that you should see the world too, ere you make choice for life between them." "It was for that very reason that my father willed that I should come forth into the world at my twentieth year," said Alleyne.
"Then your father was a man of good counsel," said she, "and you cannot carry out his will better than by going on this path, where all that is noble and gallant in England will be your companions." "You can ride ?" asked Sir Nigel, looking at the youth with puckered eyes.
"Yes, I have ridden much at the abbey." "Yet there is a difference betwixt a friar's hack and a warrior's destrier.

You can sing and play ?" "On citole, flute and rebeck." "Good! You can read blazonry ?" "Indifferent well." "Then read this," quoth Sir Nigel, pointing upwards to one of the many quarterings which adorned the wall over the fireplace.
"Argent," Alleyne answered, "a fess azure charged with three lozenges dividing three mullets sable.

Over all, on an escutcheon of the first, a jambe gules." "A jambe gules erased," said Sir Nigel, shaking his head solemnly.

"Yet it is not amiss for a monk-bred man.

I trust that you are lowly and serviceable ?" "I have served all my life, my lord." "Canst carve too ?" "I have carved two days a week for the brethren." "A model truly! Wilt make a squire of squires.