The Journey of Rheinfrid 283

Westward he rode with the sun and came
at nightfall to the Abbey of Eovesholme;
and there he told Agelwyn the Abbot the
story of his wild life and his sickness and the
service that had been laid upon him.

The Abbot embraced him, saying, “Son,
welcome art thou to our house, and thy
home shall it be till the time comes for thy
journey.”

For a whole year Rheinfrid was a novice

-in the house, and when the year had gone
by he took the vows. In the presence of
the brotherhood he cast himself on the pave-
ment before the high altar, and the pall of
the dead was laid over him, and the monks
sang the dirge of the dead, for now he was
indeed dying to this world. And from his
head they cut the long hair, and clothed him
in the habit of a monk, and henceforth he
was done with all earthly things and was
one of themselves.

“ Surely, now,” he thought, “ the time of
my journey draws near.” But one year and
a second and yet a third passed away, and
there came to him no call, and he grew
wearied with waiting, and weariness begot
sullenness and discontent, and he questioned