242 The Story of

Bee-hives, too, he set up, and grew all
manner of flowers, both for the use of the
little brown toilers and for the joyance of the
brethren; and of the flowers he spoke deep
and beautiful parables too many to be told
of in this book.

Now in the third year of his rule the
Prior heard tidings of the companion he had
never forgotten, and he took into his confi-
dence one of the religious named Bede, in
whom he had great trust, and he told him
the story of their friendship. ‘And now,
Bede,” he said, “ I would have thee go ona
long journey, even to the golden city of
London, and seek out my friend. He will
easily be found, for men know his name, and
he hath grown to some repute, and the good
things of this world have not been denied
him. And in this I rejoice, for when he
hath won all his heart may desire, he will the
sooner discover how little is the joy and how
fleeting the content. And tell him that so
long as I am Prior of this house, so long
shall this house be a home waiting for his
home-coming. Bid him come to me —if
but for a little while, then for a little while