too angry to be prudent.
"Dost call thyself a servitor of God? If God hath no better servitors
than thou, I ween He is evil served!"

The Abbot cast a glance from the corner of his eye at Lord Marnell, but
made no answer, save to tell his beads more devoutly than ever.

"Hast no other place to tell thy beads in?" asked that nobleman.

The Abbot rose without a word, and, pausing at the door, stretched his
hand over the assembled trio, and muttered some words to himself.

"Away with thee, Lucifer, and thy maledictions!" exclaimed Lord Marnell.
"There be here who are nearer to the angels than ever thou shalt be!"

Suddenly the Abbot was gone. Nobody had seen or heard him depart--he
seemed to melt into the night, in some strange, mysterious way.

"He is gone, and Satan his master go with him!" said Lord Marnell. "Ho,
jailer! lock the door, I pray, and leave us three alone together."

The jailer obeyed; and Lord Marnell sat down by the side of Margery's
bed, and bade Alice lie down on her own pallet, and sleep if she could.
He gave the same counsel to Margery; but the latter smiled, and said she
would never sleep again in this world.

"Now, Madge!" said her husband, "hast aught on thy mind, good wife, that
thou wouldst say ere morn? Aught that I can do for thee? Trust me, I
will do the same right gladly."

Margery thanked him fervently; there was a heartiness in his tone which
was not often audible.

"There be a few matters, mine own good Lord, which under thy good
pleasure I would willingly have done. I would that all my servants
might have a year's pay; and for Alice, poor lass! who hath tended me so
well and truly, I pray that a small matter of money may be given her by
the year: moreover, I would like, if she will--for I would not lay her
under bond--that she should keep with Geoffrey while she liveth, or at
least until he be a man. And, good husband, I would that thou wouldst
teach my poor child to remember me, his mother, but above all, to
remember the Lord for whom I die, and who, having loved me in the world,
loveth me unto the end. [John xiii. 1] Tell him to count nought too
good for Christ. I trust Christ hath set His heart upon him--I have
prayed for him too much else--and He promised me that whatever thing I
should ask the Father in His name He would do that thing." [John xvi.
16].

"Hast thou prayed ever for me, good wife?" asked Lord Marnell.

"Many times, my good Lord, and I will do so