The two figures
that they followed were crawling like black flies across the huge green contour
of a hill. They were evidently sunk in conversation, and perhaps did not notice
where they were going; but they were certainly going to the wilder and more
silent heights of the Heath.
Under a tree in
this commanding yet neglected spot was an old decrepit wooden seat. On this
seat sat the two priests still in serious speech together.
Valentin
contrived to creep up behind the big branching tree, and, standing there in
deathly silence, heard the words of the strange priests for the first time.
The two priests
were talking exactly like priests, piously, with learning and leisure, about the
most aerial enigmas of theology. The little Essex priest spoke the more simply,
with his round face turned to the strengthening stars; the other talked with
his head bowed, as if he were not even worthy to look at them.