their work, and
the novices to bowls or other games; the Prior first distributing the
garden instruments, and then beginning the labour with a commendation of
it to God; and after finishing the manual work and a short time of
study, they re-assembled in the cloister to go to Vespers. This, like
the high mass, was performed with the ceremonial proper to the day, and
was followed by supper, at which the same kind of ceremonies were
observed as at dinner. When this was over, after a further short
interval the evening reading or Collation took place in the
chapter-house, after which the monks were at liberty to go and warm
themselves at the one great fire kept up for the purpose in the
calefactory; and then compline was sung, followed by Our Lady's Anthem.

This for Chris was one of the climaxes of the day's emotions. He was
always tired out by now with the day's work, and longing for bed, and
this approach to the great Mother of Monks soothed and quieted him. It
was sung in almost complete darkness, except for a light or two in the
long nave where a dark figure or two would be kneeling, and the pleasant
familiar melody, accompanied softly by the organ overhead after the bare
singing of Compline, seemed like a kind of good-night kiss. The
infinite pathos of the words never failed to touch him, the cry of the
banished children of Eve, weeping and mourning in this vale of tears to
Mary whose obedience had restored what Eve's self-will had ruined, and
the last threefold sob of endearment to the "kindly, loving, sweet,
Virgin Mary." After the high agonisings and aspirations of the day's
prayer, the awfulness of the holy Sacrifice, the tramping monotony of
the Psalter, the sting of the discipline, the aches and sweats of the
manual labour, the intent strain of the illuminating, this song to Mary
was a running into Mother's arms and finding compensation there for all
toils and burdens.

Finally in complete silence the monks passed along the dark cloister,
sprinkled with holy water as they left the church, up to the dormitory
which ran over the whole length of the chapter house, the bridges and
other offices, to sleep till midnight.

* * * * *

The effect of this life, unbroken by external distractions, was to make
Chris's soul alert and perceptive to the inner world, and careless or
even contemptuous of the ordinary world of men. This spiritual realm
began for the first time to disclose its det