THE KING AND THE BONDMEN.

 Father Eustace was once in France," replied
 Jocelin, and I have heard him say that the suffer-
 ings of the peasants became afterwards worse than
 ever, and they knew not what to do in their misery.
 I have myself read of such things in a book in our
 convent library."
 "I wish I could read," interrupted Cicely; there
 must be wonderful matters in those old parchment
 volumes, since Jocelin takes such delight in them."
 Ay," said Joan, as she looked with pride on her
 son, "there be wonders, truly Do we not see that
 the man who can read is oftentimes of more use than
 a noble? But why shouldst thou wish to read, Cicely?
 there be no books for the like of thee."
 "At times," observed Jocelin, "when I have been
 sitting with Father Eustace, copying some rare book
 for many hours, till our fingers are weary, then he
 will say he doubteth not that some day men will find
 out a quicker way of making books than copying
 them with the pen on skins of parchment. Father
 Eustace hath a goodly discernment, but I see not
 how it is to be done. He saith also that a day will
 come when knowledge shall be mightier than they
 who bring many men to battle."
 "Oh, if that were going to happen in our day!"
 exclaimed Cicely.
 Joan now laid aside her distaff, and, taking one of
the hard, horny hands of the bondman in her own, she
said, "Listen to what Jocelin says, husband; doth he
not often bring us words of peace and comfort, which
he learns yonder in the convent ? "
 "1Who talks of peace and comfort," rejoined
Hubert; "am I not a thrall ? Must I not go to the
field at day dawn, and yoke the oxen, and plough till
my back aches; and then when evening comes I must