Samkim and Arula could not help giggling at the tragicomic display put on by the two stoats. Abbess Vale silenced the young ones with a stern glance. Turning, she addressed the stoats in a no-nonsense manner.

“Tut-tut! If you wish to stay at our Abbey you must cease this disgraceful exhibition immediately. Do you hear me?”

Instantly Dingeye and Thura stopped howling and sat up.

“Do yer mean we c’n stay?”

“An’ we can come to yer whoopdedoo an’ scoff . . . I mean ’ave summat to eat?”

The Abbess nodded. “Redwall Abbey is a place of peace and plenty, but while you are here you must observe our rules: to live in harmony with the creatures about you, and help the sick, the aged and the very young. Also you must never raise a paw in anger against any creature. We are a peaceful order, we tend the land and prosper from its bounteous way of life. If you are willing to abide by our laws then you may stay here gladly.”

The Abbess’s words set them both off afresh.

“Whaahaah! Forgive me fer cryin’ luvverly lady, but you reminds me of me ol’ mother—she looked just like yew!”

“Whaaaaw! Lackaday, I never knew my mother, but I’m sure she woulda looked just like yer too. Bless yer, mum, with yore kind eyes an’ gentle voice an’—”

Thrugg and the Foremole hauled the stoats upright.

Tudd Spinney looked doubtfully toward the Abbess. “What d’you think, marm? Pers’nally, I don’t much care for the look o’ these two.”

Foremole seconded Tudd’s opinion. “Burr, nor do oi. They’m looken loik a roight ol’ pair o’ gullywashers!”

The Abbess stroked her chin thoughtfully. “Hmmm, I can see what you mean. What do you think, Bremmun?”

Recalling his harsh judgment of Samkim and Arula, the old squirrel shrugged uneasily. “Well, they do look rather pitiful, Mother Abbess, but I think the decision is finally yours.”

Dingeye’s voice quivered with emotion, and he went limp in the Foremole’s strong grasp, shaking his paws in despair.

“The decision is yores. ’E’s right, lady. Turn us out, back inter the crool world. We should never ’ave darkened yer doorstep, two misfortunate wretches such as us!”

Despite his size, Thrugg was softhearted, and he sniffed aloud. “Stow that kind o’ talk, matey. Our Abbess ain’t got an ’eart made o’ stone!”

Thrugg’s words seemed to make up the Abbess’s mind, and she nodded decisively. “All right, you can stay. But remember this: whilst you are guests at Redwall you must behave, mind your manners and keep your paws to yourselves. Is that clear?”

Dingeye and Thura broke away from their keepers. Falling on all fours, they began kissing the hem of the Abbess’s robe.