ful sister, and well
served from the kitchen and cellar; and the Reverend Mother herself had
come in and talked sensibly and bravely. He pictured to himself what
life must be like through the nunnery wall opposite--how brisk and
punctual it must be, and at the same time homely and caressing.

And it was his hand that was to pull down the first prop. There would no
doubt be three or four nuns below age who must be dismissed, and
probably there would be a few treasures to be carried off, a
processional crucifix perhaps, such as he had seen in Dr. Layton's
collection, and a rich chalice or two, used on great days. His own
sister too must be one of those who must go. How would the little old
Abbess behave herself then? What would she say? Yet he comforted
himself, as he lay there in the clean, low-ceilinged room, staring at
the tiny crockery stoup gleaming against the door-post, by recollecting
the principle on which he had come. Possibly a few innocents would have
to suffer, a few old hearts be broken; but it was for a man to take such
things in his day's work.

And then as he remembered Dr. Layton's tales, his heart grew hot and
hard again.

CHAPTER IV

AN UNEXPECTED MEETING

The enquiry was to be made in the guest-parlour on the next morning.

* * * * *

Ralph went to mass first at nine o'clock, which was said by a priest
from the parish church who acted as chaplain to the convent; and had a
chair set for him outside the nuns' choir from which he could see the
altar and the tall pointed window; and then, after some refreshment in
the guest-parlour, spread out his papers, and sat enthroned behind a
couple of tables, as at a tribunal. Mr. Morris stood deferentially by
his chair as the examination was conducted.

Ralph was a little taken aback by the bearing of the Abbess. In the
course of the enquiry, when he was perplexed by one or two of the
records, she rose from her chair before the table, and came round to his
side, drawing up a seat as she did so; Ralph could hardly tell her to go
back, but his magisterial air was a little affected by having one whom
he almost considered as a culprit sitting judicially beside him.

"It is better for me to be here," she said. "I can explain more easily
so."

* * * * *

There was a little orchard that the nuns had sold in the previous year;
and Ralph asked for an explanation.

"It came from the Kingsf