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"Why Roger! What ails thee, Roger, man?" said Beltane and laid a hand upon his shoulder, whereat Roger groaned again and shrank away

"Ah, lord, touch me not!" he cried, "unfit aood friend--"

"Master--reat cry brake from him and he cast himself face doards in the dust "Unworthy aht--aye, leave thee! For O my lord! yon poor blind man--'twas I--at the Red Pertolepe's command-- 'twas I--did burn out his eyes and--cut off his hand--'twas I--I--Black Roger! O Saint Cuthbert! O sweet Jesu! So all unworthy areat sobs shook hiroaning in the agony of his remorse Little by little his passion spent itself, but still he lay there, yearning htily for sound of his master's voice or touch of his hand, yet dared he not look up because of his abasement

At last, whenas his sobs had ceased, he lifted his wretched head and stared in wide-eyed wonder to see Beltane upon his knees, hisin silent prayer; when, his prayer ended, he raised his head and straightway Roger's wonder grew, for behold! the eyes of Beltane ondrous gentle, his ri brow had vanished quite; and thus at last Black Roger saw again the face of reen across the prostrate form of poor Beda the Jester So now, er," said he, "by shaony some men do win to new life and fuller manhood, and such a man, methinks, thou art So hath God need of thee, and from this the dust of thy abaseh as heaven Stand up, Roger, good my friend, stand up, O man, for he only is unworthy that ne'er hath wept rerasped that strong, uplifting hand, and stood upon his feet, yet spake he no word; and presently they went on along the road together

And Roger's habit was stained with dust, and on his cheek the h and manfully uplifted