his arms crossed upon his bosom, and his head bent
slightly forward, walked slowly forth, with a solemn gravity well
befitting his costume. Imitating him as well as I was able, I followed
him up the stairs. On reaching the second landing, he tapped twice with
his knuckles at a low door, whose pointed arch and iron grating were
made to represent the postern of a convent.

'_Benedicite_,' said Phil, in a low voice.

'_Et tu quoque, frater_,' responded some one from within, and the door
was opened.

Saluting a venerable-looking figure, who, with a long grey beard, bowed
devoutly as we passed, we entered an apartment, where, so sudden was the
change from what I had hitherto seen, I could scarcely trust my eyes.
A comfortable, well-carpeted room, with curtained windows, cushioned
chairs, and, not least inviting of all, a blazing fire of wood upon the
hearth, were objects I was little prepared for; but I had little time to
note them, my attention being directed with more curiosity to the living
occupants of this strange dwelling. Some fifteen or sixteen persons,
costumed like ourselves, either walked up and down engaged in
conversation, or sat in little groups around the fire. Card-tables there
were in different parts of the room, but one only was occupied. At this
a party of reverend fathers were busily occupied at whist. In the corner
next the fire, seated in a large chair of carved oak, was a figure,
whose air and bearing bespoke authority; the only difference in his
costume from the others being a large embroidered corkscrew, which he
wore on his left shoulder.

'Holy Prior, your blessing,' said Phil, bowing obsequiously before him.

'You have it, my son: much good may it do you,' responded the superior,
in a voice which, somehow or other, seemed not perfectly new to me.

While O'Grady engaged in a whispered conversation with the prior,
I turned my eyes towards a large-framed paper which hung above the
chimney. It ran thus:--

'Rules and regulations to be observed in the monastery of the venerable
and pious brothers, the Monks of the Screw.'

Conceiving it scarcely delicate in a stranger to read over the
regulations of a society of which he was not a member, I was turning
away, when O'Grady, seizing me by the arm, whispered, 'Remember your
lesson'; then added aloud, 'Holy Father, this is the lay brother of whom
I spoke.'

The prior bowed formally, and extended his hands towards me with a
gesture of benediction