aste."

"Bring here my accuser," replied Sister Marie, with steadfast
countenance, "and you will see whether in my presence he will abide by
his evil declaration."

"No further proof is needed," he said, "since the confessor has been
found guilty."

"I hold him for too honourable a man," said Sister Marie, "to have
confessed so great a lie; but even should he have done so, bring him
here before me, and I will prove the contrary of what he says."

The Prior, finding that he could in no wise move her, thereupon said--

"I am your father, and seek to save your honour. For this reason I will
leave the truth of the matter to your own conscience, and will believe
whatever it bids you say. I ask you and conjure you on pain of mortal
sin to tell me truly whether you were indeed a virgin when you were
placed in this house?"

"My father," she replied, "I was then but five years old, and that age
must in itself testify to my virginity."

"Well, my daughter," said the Prior, "have you not since that time lost
this flower?"

She swore that she had kept it, and that she had had no hindrance in
doing so except from himself. Whereto he replied that he could not
believe it, and that the matter required proof.

"What proof," she asked, "would you have?"

"The same as from the others," said the Prior; "for as I am visitor of
souls, even so am I visitor of bodies also. Your abbesses and prioresses
have all passed through my hands, and you need have no fear if I visit
your virginity. Wherefore throw yourself upon the bed, and lift the
forepart of your garments over your face."

"You have told me so much of your wicked love for me," Sister Marie
replied in wrath, "that I think you seek rather to rob me of my
virginity than to visit it. So understand that I shall never consent."

Thereupon he said to her that she was excommunicated for refusing him
the obedience which Holy Church commanded, and that, if she did not
consent, he would dishonour her before the whole Chapter by declaring
the evil that he knew of between herself and the confessor.

But with fearless countenance she replied--

"He that knows the hearts of His servants shall give me as much honour
in His presence as you can give me shame in the presence of men; and
since your wickedness goes so far, I would rather it wreaked its cruelty
upon me than its evil passion; for I know that God is a just judge."

Then the Prior departed and assembled the whole Chapter, and