heads, and
folded hands, all the White Ladies passed.

Each went in silence to her cell, there kneeling in prayer and
contemplation until the Refectory bell should call to the evening meal.

As the last, save one, went by, the keen eyes of the old lay-sister
noted that her hands were clenched against her breast, that she
stumbled at the topmost step, and caught her breath with a half sob.

Behind her, moving quickly, came the spare form of the Sub-Prioress,
ferret-faced, alert, vigilant; fearful lest sin should go unpunished;
wishful to be the punisher.

She must have heard the half-strangled sob burst from the slight figure
stumbling up the steps before her, had not old Mary Antony been
suddenly moved at that moment to uplift her voice in a cracked and
raucous "Amen."

Startled, and vexed at being startled, the Sub-Prioress turned upon
Mary Antony.

"Peace, woman!" she said. "The Convent cloister is not a hen-yard.
Such ill-timed devotion well-nigh merits penance. Rise from thy knees,
and go at once about thy business."

The Sub-Prioress hastened on.

Scowling darkly, old Antony bent forward, looking, past Mother
Sub-Prioress, up the cloister to the distant passage.

Sister Mary Seraphine had reached her cell. The door was shut.

Old Antony's knees creaked as she arose, but her wizened face was once
more cheerful.

"Beans in her broth to-night," she said. "One for 'woman'; another for
the hen-yard; a third for threatening penance when I did but chant a
melodious 'Amen.' I'll give her beans--castor beans!"

Down the steps she went, pushed the heavy door to, locked it, and drew
forth the key; then turned her steps toward the cell of the Reverend
Mother.

On her way thither, she paused at a certain door and listened, her ear
against the oaken panel. Then she hurried onward, knocked upon the
door of the Reverend Mother's cell and, being bidden to enter, passed
within, closed the door behind her, and dropped upon her knees.

The Prioress stood beside the casement, gazing at the golden glory of
the sunset. She was, for the moment, unconscious of her surroundings.
Her mind was away behind those crimson battlements.

Presently she turned and saw the old woman, kneeling at the door.

"How now, dear Antony?" she said, kindly. "Get up! Hang the key in
its appointed place, and make me thy report. Have all returned? As
always, is all well?"

The old lay-sister rose, hung the massive key upon a nail;