ow. Through the months of anxiety each
monk had faced the probability of such tidings coming to him sooner or
later; and the last few days had brought expectation to its climax. Yet
it was hard to see the enemy face to face, and to know that there was no
possibility of resisting him finally.

The Sub-Prior rose to his feet and began to speak, glancing as if for
corroboration to his superior from time to time. His mouth worked a
little at the close of each sentence.

"My Lord Prior has shown us his own mind, and I am with him in the
matter. His Grace treats us like his own children; he wishes us to be
loving and obedient. But, as a father too, he has authority behind to
compel us to his will if we will not submit. And, as my Lord Prior said
yesterday, we do not know whether or no his Grace will not permit us to
remain here after all, if we are docile; or perhaps refound the priory
out of his own bounty. There is talk of the Chertsey monks going to the
London Charterhouse from Bisham where the King set them last year. But
we may be sure he will not do so with us if we resist his will now. I on
my part then am in favour of yielding up the house willingly, and
trusting ourselves to his Grace's clemency."

There was again silence as he sat down; and a pause of a minute or two
before Dom Anthony rose. His ruddy face was troubled and perplexed; but
he spoke resolutely enough.

He said that he could not understand why the matter had not been laid
before them earlier, that they might have had time to consider it. The
question was an extremely difficult one to the consciences of some of
them. On the one hand there was the peril of acquiescing in
sacrilege--the Prior twisted in his seat as he heard this--and on the
other of wilfully and petulantly throwing away their only opportunity of
saving their priory. He asked for time.

Several more made speeches, some in favour of the proposal, and some
asking, as Dom Anthony had done, for further tine for consideration.
They had no precedents, they said, on which to decide such a question,
for they understood that it was not on account of treason that they
were required to surrender the house and property.

The Prior rose with a white face.

"No, no," he cried. "God forbid! That is over and done with. I--we have
made our peace with my Lord Cromwell in that affair."

"Then why," asked Dom Anthony, "are we required to yield it?"

The Prior glanced helplessly at him.

"I--it is a