s that all?'

'Yes. No, it is not all. Tell him that I passed away loving and
forgiving.'

'My time is short,' I said; 'awake and listen!' for having spoken thus
she seemed to be sinking into a lethargy. 'I was the assistant of that
Andres de Fonseca whose counsel you put aside to your ruin, and I have
given a certain drug to the abbess yonder. When she offers you the cup
of water, see that you drink and deep, you and the child. If so none
shall ever die more happily. Do you understand?'

'Yes--yes,' she gasped, 'and may blessings rest upon you for the gift.
Now I am no more afraid--for I have long desired to die--it was the way
I feared.'

'Then farewell, and God be with you, unhappy woman.'

'Farewell,' she answered softly, 'but call me not unhappy who am about
to die thus easily with that I love.' And she glanced at the sleeping
babe.

Then I drew back and stood with bent head, speaking no word. Now the
Dominican motioned to all to take the places where they had stood before
and asked her:

'Erring sister, have you aught to say before you are silent for ever?'

'Yes,' she answered in a clear, sweet voice, that never even quavered,
so bold had she become since she learned that her death would be swift
and easy. 'Yes, I have this to say, that I go to my end with a clean
heart, for if I have sinned it is against custom and not against God.
I broke the vows indeed, but I was forced to take those vows, and,
therefore, they did not bind. I was a woman born for light and love,
and yet I was thrust into the darkness of this cloister, there to wither
dead in life. And so I broke the vows, and I am glad that I have
broken them, though it has brought me to this. If I was deceived and
my marriage is no marriage before the law as they tell me now, I knew
nothing of it, therefore to me it is still valid and holy and on my soul
there rests no stain. At the least I have lived, and for some few hours
I have been wife and mother, and it is as well to die swiftly in this
cell that your mercy has prepared, as more slowly in those above. And
now for you--I tell you that your wickedness shall find you out, you who
dare to say to God's children--"Ye shall not love," and to work murder
on them because they will not listen. It shall find you out I say, and
not only you but the Church you serve. Both priest and Church shall be
broken together and shall be a scorn in the mouths of men to come.'

'She is distraught,' said the Dominic