The Door in the Wall Read Online Free PDF Page A

fishing? Even the fun of fitting arms and legs to the doll could not keep Robin from wanting to get out into the fields and away from bench and bed, stool and trundle cart.
    “I could sit against a tree and fish, too, think you?”
    “No doubt,” agreed Brother Luke. “Come, then.” Helifted Robin to his back and they went, down the green, to the brook outside the walls.
    They fished for a time, each catching several trout, which they wrapped in leaves. The sun shone warm through the leafy grove. Insects droned in the noon heat, and the water slipped musically over green-mossed stones.
    It was very still.
    Suddenly the quiet was burst with the shout of boys’ voices. Six or seven urchins ran over the green, stripping off clothing as they came. Robin, looking over his shoulder, saw Geoffrey Atte-Water, the same lad he had first seen limping through the corridors of St. Mark’s. Geoffrey raced down the bank ahead of all the rest, swinging his crutches ahead of him and taking in his stride twice as much ground as the other boys.
    Geoffrey saw Robin at the same moment.
    “Hi! Crookshanks!” he called. “Art finding fish for thy fasting?”
    Off came the last ragged garment, down went the crutches, and with a “Whoosh!” he was into the water with the others and away with the current. Thrashing arms and legs beat the water into foam and spoiled the fishing.

    Robin wished with all his heart that he could go into the water and swim, too. It was all very well for Brother Luke to bring him fishing, but it only seemed to make it harder that he couldn’t run about or swim like the other boys.
    The friar saw Robin’s hungry look.
    “Off with thy jerkin,” he said, at the same time rising and taking off his own habit. “We’ll give thee a good bath and cleanse thy humor. Who knows? Mayhap we can teach thee to swim!” He pulled off Robin’s hosen and carried him into the water, holding and dipping him where the current ran deep.
    “Now swing thy arms about, with fingers closed to push the water back.”
    Robin pushed, and felt himself moving along with Brother Luke walking and supporting him. All the troubles of the past months seemed to float away with the running of the brook and strength and power to flow into his arms.
    It was wonderful.
    Brother Luke didn’t allow him to stay long in the water, but promised to bring him every day.
    “For some time I have had this in mind,” he said. “Now I know I was right. This will make thine arms even stronger, and soon they will help thee to get about on land as well.”
    “How?” asked Robin. But even as he said it, he knew what Brother Luke meant. Crutches I That was it I With crutches he would be able to go about as Geoffrey did. He could play at duck on a rock with the boys. He could join them in hoodman-blind or hide-and-seek. Crutches would be almost as much fun as stilts!
    Then Robin remembered that his father expected him to be a knight. How could he ride horseback in chain mail while his legs were bent and he had to use crutches?
    How could he face his father? How bear his mother’s pitying look? How would they feel to have a son who could not fulfill his knightly duties?
    “I see thou hast my meaning,” said the friar, as he finished dressing Robin. “Crutches or crosses as thou’lt have it. ’Tis all the same thing. Remember, even thy crutches can be a door in a wall. By the time they are made, thou’lt be ready for them, God willing. Up, now, and hold fast whilst we go up the hill.”
    From that day forward swimming became a part of Robin’s everyday life. Besides reading, writing, and the study of history and the stars Robin was given certain duties in the routine of the church. At the lectern during rehearsals he turned the pages of the missal, a book of music notes large enough for all the Brothers to see as they stood in the chantry. Each day, too, he worked with Brother Matthew in the carpentry shop. He liked the music and the carpentry better