face flushed, and his eyes grew bright with inward fires such
as the Bishop could hardly be expected to understand.

"I want not spiritual planes," he said, "nor realms of perfection. I
want my own wife, in my own home; and, could I have won her there, I
have not much doubt but that I could have lifted her over any perilous
pitfalls that came in her way."

"True, my son," said the Bishop, at once gently acquiescent; for Symon
of Worcester invariably yielded a point which had been misunderstood.
For over-rating a mind with which he conversed, this was ever his
self-imposed penance. "Your great strength would be fully equal to
lifting ladies over pitfalls. Which recalls to my mind a scene in this
day's events, which I would fain describe to you before we part."

CHAPTER XXII

WHAT BROTHER PHILIP HAD TO TELL

The Bishop sat back in his chair, smiling, as at a mental picture which
gave him pleasure, coupled with some amusement.

Ignoring the Knight's sullen silence, he began his story in the
cheerful voice which takes for granted a willing and an interested
listener.

"When the Prioress and myself were discussing your hopes, my son, and I
was urging, in your interests, liberty of flight for Sister Mary
Seraphine, I informed the Reverend Mother that the carrying out of your
plans, carefully laid in order to keep any scandal concerning the White
Ladies from reaching the city, would involve for Seraphine a ride of
many hours to Warwick, almost immediately upon safely reaching the Star
hostel. This seemed as nothing to the lover who, by his own shewing,
had ofttimes seen her 'ride like a bird, all day, on the moors.' But
to us who know the effect of monastic life and how quickly such matters
as these become lost arts through disuse, this romantic ride in the
late afternoon and on into the summer night, loomed large as a possible
obstacle to the successful flight of Seraphine.

"Therefore, in order that our little bird might try her wings, regain
her seat and mastery of a horse, and rid herself of a first painful
stiffness, I persuaded the Reverend Mother to grant the nuns a Play
Day, in honour of my visit, promising to send them my white palfrey,
suitably caparisoned, in safe charge of a good lay-brother, so that all
nuns who pleased, might ride in the river meadow. You would not think
it," said the Bishop, with a smile, "but the White Ladies dearly love
such sport, when it is lawful. They have an aged as