Bruno!" said he. "The
maiden may have the soul of a fiend, for aught I wot, yet hath she the
face of an angel."

"I thank thee. There is no fear!" answered Bruno, with a smile which
made him look sadder.

The Countess had not returned from the coronation festivities, and the
girls were alone in Margaret's bower, when Father Bruno entered, with
"God save all here!"

Belasez rose hastily, and prepared to withdraw.

"Wait, my child," said the priest, gently: "I would speak with thee."

But when she turned in answer, and he saw her face, some strange and
terrible emotion seemed to convulse his own.

"_Domine, in Te speravi_!" fell from his trembling lips, as if he
scarcely realised what he was saying.

Belasez looked at him with an astonished expression. Whatever were the
cause of his singular emotion, it was evidently neither understood nor
shared by her.

With a manifest effort of self-control, Bruno recovered himself.

"Sit down, daughters," he said: for all had risen in reverence to the
priest: and he seated himself on the settle, whence he had a full view
of Belasez.

"And what is thy name, my daughter?"

"Belasez, at your service."

"And thy father's name?"

"Abraham of Norwich, if it please you."

"Abraham--of Norwich! Not--not the son of Ursel of Norwich?"

"The same."

Again that look of intense pain crossed Bruno's face.

"No wonder!" he said, speaking not to Belasez. "The very face--the very
look! No wonder!--And thy mother?"

"My mother is Licorice, the daughter of Kokorell of Lincoln."

Bruno gave a little nod, as if he had known it before.

"Hast thou any brethren or sisters?"

"One brother only; his name is Delecresse."

The reply seemed to extinguish Bruno's interest. For a moment, as if
his thoughts were far elsewhere, he played with a morsel of sewing-silk
which he had picked up from the floor.

"The Lord is wiser than men," he said at last, as if that were the
conclusion to which his unseen thoughts had led him.

"Yes; and better," answered the young Jewess.

"And better," dreamily repeated the priest. "We shall know that one
day, when we wake up to see His Face."

"Amen," said Belasez. "`When we awake up after Thy likeness,' saith
David the Prophet, `we shall be satisfied with it.'"

"`Satisfied!' echoed Bruno. Art thou satisfied, my daughter?"

The answering "No!" appeared to come from the depths of Belasez's heart.

"Shall I tell thee wherefore? There i