require telling. And as to so shocking a
supposition as that the Church had no right to issue her own commands,--
well, it was not proper!

Eva's objection was quite as strong, but of a different sort. She
really could not understand what Beatrice wanted. If the priest--or the
Church--they were very much the same thing--told her what to do, could
she not rest and be thankful? It was a great deal less trouble than
everlastingly thinking for one's self.

"No one of any note ever thinks for himself," chimed in Hawise.

"Then I am glad I am not of any note!" bluntly responded Beatrice.

"You a De Malpas! I am quite shocked!" said Hawise.

"God made me with a heart and a conscience," was the answer. "If He had
not meant me to use them, He would not have given them to me."

At that point Beatrice left the room in answer to a call from the
Countess; and Hawise, turning to her companions, remarked in a whisper
that it must be that dreadful Jewish blood on the mother's side which
had given her such very improper notions. They were _so_ low! "For my
part," she added, "if it were proper to say so, I should remark that I
cannot imagine why Father Bruno does not see that she understands
something of Christianity--but of course one must not criticise a
priest."

"Speak truth, my daughter," said a voice from the doorway which rather
disconcerted Hawise. "Thou canst not understand my actions--in what
respect?"

"I humbly crave your pardon, Father; but I am really distressed about
Beatrice."

"Indeed!--how so?"

"She understands nothing about Christian duties."

"I hope that is a little more than truth. But if not,--let her
understand Christ first, my child: Christian duties will come after."

"Forgive _me_, Father--without teaching?"

"Not without His teaching," said Bruno, gravely. "Without mine, it may
be."

"But, Father, she does not know the five commandments of holy Church.
Nay, she asks what `the Church' means."

"If she be in the Church, she can wait to know it. Thy garments will
not keep thee less warm because thou hast never learned how to weave
them."

Hawise did not reply, but she looked unconvinced.

A few days after this, Eva was pleased to inform Beatrice that she had
been so happy as to reach that point which in her eyes was the apex of
feminine ambition.

"I am betrothed to Sir William de Cantilupe."

Margaret sighed.

"Dost thou like him?" asked Beatrice, in her straightforward wa