t
believe there are twenty bristles left of the old one."

Joan looked up from her griffin's tail to laugh.

"Well, what is to be done?"

"Oh, I suppose we must do as we are bid," saith Sister Ada in a mournful
voice. "But, dear heart, to think of it!"

"How many pails have you, Sister Ada?"

"There's the large bouget, and the little one. The middle-sized one is
broken, but it will hold some water."

"Two and a half, then," answered Sister Gaillarde. "Well, fetch them,
Sister, and I will go and see to the mops. I think we have a mop left.
Perhaps, now, if we din our needs well into my Lady's ears, we may get
one or two more. But, sweet Saint Felicitas! is there any soap?"

"Half a firkin came in last week," responded Sister Ada. "You forget,
Sister Gaillarde, the rule forbids us to ask more than once for
anything."

"The rule should forbid Prioresses to have short memories, then. Come,
Sister Annot, leave that minikin fiddle-faddle, and come and help with
the real work. If it is to be done by vespers, we want all the hands we
can get. I will fetch Sister Margaret to it; she always puts her heart
into what she has to do. Well, you look sorely disappointed, child: I
am sorry for it, but I cannot help it. I have no fancy for such
vanities, but I dare say you like better sticking bits of gold leaf upon
vellum than scrubbing and sweeping."

"Sister Annot, I am ashamed of you!" said Sister Ada. "Your perfection
must be very incomplete, if you can look disappointed on receiving an
order from your superior. You ought to rejoice at such an opportunity
of mortifying your will."

"That's more than I've done," said Sister Gaillarde. "Well, Sister Ada,
as you don't offer to move, I suppose we had better leave you here till
you have finished rejoicing over the opportunity. I hope you'll get
done in time to take advantage of it. Come, Sister Annot."

I thought I had better follow. So, having given Joan a few directions
to enable her to go on for a time without superintendence, I went to see
after the water-bougets, which should have been Sister Ada's work. She
called after me--"Sister Annora, I'll follow you in a moment. I have
not quite finished my rosary."

I left her there, telling her last few beads, and went to fetch the
bougets, which I carried to the chapel, just as Sister Gaillarde came in
with her arms full, followed by Margaret and Annot.

"I've found two mops!" she cried. "Mine was all ri