uppose it's just
possible that some bishop will accept me for ordination from
Malford, though no doubt it's improbable. This will be a matter to
discuss with Father Burrowes later.

Do forgive what looks like a most erratic course of procedure. But
I really should hate a long discussion, and if I make a mistake I
shall have had a lesson. It really is essential for me to be
tremendously occupied. I cannot say more than this, but I do beg
you to believe that I'm not taking this apparently unpremeditated
step without a very strong reason. It's a kind of compromise with
my ambition to re-establish in the English Church an order of
preaching friars. I haven't yet given up that idea, but I'm sure
that I ought not to think about it seriously until I'm a priest.

I'm staying here to-night after a glorious day's tramp, and
to-morrow morning I shall take the train and go by Reading and
Basingstoke to Malford. I'll write to you as soon as I know if I'm
accepted. My best love to everybody, and please tell Esther that I
shall think about her on St. Mary Magdalene's Day.

Yours always affectionately,

Mark.

To Esther he wrote by the same post:

My dear Sister Esther Magdalene,

Do not be angry with me for running away, and do not despise me for
trying to enter a monastery in such a mood. I'm as much the prey of
religion as you are. And I am really horrified by the revelation of
what I am capable of. I saw in your eyes yesterday the passion of
your soul for Divine things. The memory of them awes me. Pray for
me, dear sister, that all my passion may be turned to the service
of God. Defend me to your brother, who will not understand my
behaviour.

Mark.

Three days later Mark wrote again to the Rector:

The Abbey,

Malford,

Surrey.

June 27th.

My dear Rector,

I do hope that you're not so much annoyed with me that you don't
want to hear anything about my monastic adventures. However, if you
are you can send back this long letter unopened. I believe that is
the proper way to show one's disapproval by correspondence.

I reached Malford yesterday afternoon, and after a jolly walk
between high hazel hedges for about two miles I reached the Abbey.
It doesn't quite fulfil one's preconceived ideas of what an abbey