action, when report reached me as to which of the nuns had
taken the riding seriously. Therefore, with no little interest, I
awaited the return of Iconoklastes, in charge of Brother Philip."

The Bishop lifted the faggot-fork and, bending over the hearth, began
to build the logs, quickening the dying flame.

"Well?" cried the Knight, chafing like a charger on the curb. "Well,
my lord? And then?"

The Bishop stood the faggot-fork in its corner.

"I paused, my son, that you might say: 'Wherefore "Philip"?'"

"The names of men interest me not," said the Knight, with impatience.
"I care but to know the reason for the names of beasts."

"Quite right," said the Bishop. "Adam named the beasts; Eve named the
men. Yet, I would like you to ask 'Wherefore "Philip,"' because the
Prioress at once put that question, when she heard me call Brother Mark
by his new name."

"Wherefore 'Philip'?" asked the Knight, with averted eyes.

"Because 'Philip' signifies 'a lover of horses.' I named the good
brother so, when he developed a great affection for all the steeds in
my stables.

"Well, at length Brother Philip returned, leading the palfrey. I had
been riding upon the heights above the town, on my comely black mare,
Shulamite."

Again the Bishop paused, and shot a merry challenge at Hugh d'Argent;
but realising at once that the Knight could brook no more delay, he
hastened on.

"Riding into the courtyard, just as Philip led in the palfrey, I bade
him first to see to Icon's comfort; then come to my chamber and report.
Before long the lay-brother appeared.

"Now Brother Philip is an excellent teller of stories. He does not
need to mar them by additions, because his quickness of observation
takes in every detail, and his excellent memory lets nothing slip. He
has a faculty for recalling past scenes in pictures, and tells a story
as if describing a thing just happening before his mental vision: the
sole draw-back to so vivid a memory being, that if the picture grows
too mirth provoking, Brother Philip is seized with spasms of the
diaphragm, and further description becomes impossible. On this
occasion, I saw at once that the good brother's inner vision teemed
with pictures. I settled myself to listen.

"Aye, it had been a wonderful scene, and more merriment, so the
lay-sisters afterwards told Brother Philip, than ever known before at
any Play Day.

"Icon was led in state from the courtyard, down into the river mead