Айвенго

Chapter 16

           Thehermit,asifwishingtoanswertotheconfidenceofhisguest,threwbackhiscowl,andshowedaroundbulletheadbelongingtoamanintheprimeoflife.Hisclose-shavencrown,surroundedbyacircleofstiffcurledblackhair,hadsomethingtheappearanceofaparishpinfoldbegirtbyitshighhedge.Thefeaturesexpressednothingofmonasticausterity,orofasceticprivations;onthecontrary,itwasaboldbluffcountenance,withbroadblackeyebrows,awell-turnedforehead,andcheeksasroundandvermilionasthoseofatrumpeter,fromwhichdescendedalongandcurlyblackbeard.Suchavisage,joinedtothebrawnyformoftheholyman,spokeratherofsirloinsandhaunches,thanofpeaseandpulse.Thisincongruitydidnotescapetheguest.Afterhehadwithgreatdifficultyaccomplishedthemasticationofamouthfulofthedriedpease,hefounditabsolutelynecessarytorequesthispiousentertainertofurnishhimwithsomeliquor;whorepliedtohisrequestbyplacingbeforehimalargecanofthepurestwaterfromthefountain.

           "ItisfromthewellofStDunstan,"saidhe,"inwhich,betwixtsunandsun,hebaptizedfivehundredheathenDanesandBritonsblessedbehisname!"Andapplyinghisblackbeardtothepitcher,hetookadraughtmuchmoremoderateinquantitythanhisencomiumseemedtowarrant.

           "Itseemstome,reverendfather,"saidtheknight,"thatthesmallmorselswhichyoueat,togetherwiththisholy,butsomewhatthinbeverage,havethrivenwithyoumarvellously.

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