fine for Brother George to ask me to notify Bazely at Wivelrod that
the brethren wish to go to their Easter duties in his church. Bazely is
a very timid man. I've already driven him into doing more than he really
likes, and my presence in his church doesn't alarm the parishioners. In
fact, they rather like it. But they won't like to see the church full of
monks on Easter morning. They'll be more suspicious than ever of what
they call poor Bazely's innovations. It's not fair to administer such a
shock to a remote country parish like Wivelrod, especially when they're
just beginning to get used to the vestments I gave them. It seems to me
that you've deliberately driven Andrew Hett away from the Abbey, and I
don't see why poor Bazely should be made to suffer. How many monks are
you now? Fifteen? Why, fifteen bulls in Wivelrod church would create
less dismay!"

Sir Charles's protest on behalf of the Vicar of Wivelrod was effective,
for the Prior announced that after all he had decided that it was the
duty of the Community to observe Easter within the Abbey gates. The
Reverend Father would return on Easter Tuesday, and their Easter duties
would be accomplished within the Octave. Withal, it was a gloomy Easter
for the brethren, and when they began the first Vespers with the
quadruple Alleluia, it seemed as if they were still chanting the
sorrowful antiphons of Good Friday.

_My spirit is vexed within Me: and My heart within Me is desolate._

_Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by: behold and see if there
be any sorrow like unto My sorrow, which is done unto Me._

_What are these wounds in Thy Hands: Those with which I was wounded
in the house of My friends._

Nor was there rejoicing in the Community when at Lauds of Easter Day
they chanted:

_V. In Thy Resurrection, O Christ._
_R. Let Heaven and earth rejoice, Alleluia._

Nor when at Prime and Terce and Sext and None they chanted:

_This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be
glad in it._

And when at the second Vespers the Brethren declared:

_V. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us, therefore let us keep
the Feast._

_R. Not with the old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and
wickedness; but with the unleavened Bread of sincerity and
truth. Alleluia._

scarcely could they who chanted the versicle challenge with their eyes
those who hung down their heads