d as he shivered, the Abbot
bethought him of the blackbird in her nest, and of the wet flakes
driving in between the leaves of the ivy and stinging her brown wings
and patient bosom. And lifting his head from his pillow of stone he
prayed the Lord of the elements to have the bird in His gentle care,
saying, "How excellent is Thy loving-kindness, O God! therefore the
children of men put their trust under the shadow of Thy wings."

Then after a little while he said, "Look out into the night, O son, and
tell me if yet the storm be abated."

And Diarmait, shuddering, went to the mouth of the cavern, and stood
there gazing and calling in a low voice, "Domine Abbas! My Lord Abbot!
My Lord Abbot!"

Kenach rose quickly and went to him, and as they looked out the sleet
beat on their faces, but in the midst of the storm there was a space of
light, as though it were moonshine, and the light streamed from an
Angel, who stood near the wall of rock with outspread wings, and
sheltered the blackbird's nest from the wintry blast.

And the monks gazed at the shining loveliness of the Angel, till the
wind fell and the snow ceased and the light faded away and the sharp
stars came out and the night was still.

Now at sundown of the day that followed, when the Abbot was in the
cave, the young monk, standing among the rocks, saw approaching a woman
who carried a child in her arms; and crossing himself he cried aloud to
her, "Come not any nearer; turn thy face to the forest, and go down."

[Illustration: _Come not any nearer; turn thy face to the forest, and
go down_]

"Nay," replied the woman, "for we seek shelter for the night, and food
and the solace of fire for the little one."

"Go down, go down," cried Diarmait; "no woman may come to this
hermitage."

"How canst thou say that, O monk?" said the woman. "Was the Lord
Christ any worse than thou? Christ came to redeem woman no less than
to redeem man. Not less did He suffer for the sake of woman than for
the sake of man. Women gave service and tendance to Him and His
Apostles. A woman it was who bore Him, else had men been left forlorn.
It was a man who betrayed Him with a kiss; a woman it was who washed
His feet with tears. It was a man who smote Him with a reed, but a
woman who broke the alabaster box of precious ointment. It was a man
who thrice denied Him; a woman stood by His cross. It was a woman to
whom He first spoke on Easter morn, but a man thrust his hand into