neatly into the saddle.

"She gathered up the reins, as to the manner born," and bade Brother
Philip loose the bridle. But the palfrey, finding himself no longer
hemmed in by a heated, pressing crowd, gave, for very gladness of
heart, a gay little gambol.

"Whereupon, Sister Mary Seraphine, almost unseated, shrieked to Brother
Philip to hold the bridle, rating him soundly for having let go.

"He then led Icon about the meadow, the nuns following in procession;
Sister Seraphine all the while complaining; first of the saddle, which
gripped her where it should not, leaving an empty space there where
support was needed; then of the palfrey's paces; then of a twist in her
garments--twice the procession stopped to adjust them; then of the ears
of the horse which twitched for no reason, and presently pointed at
nothing--a sure sign of frenzy; and next of his eye, which rolled round
and was vicious.

"At this, Mother Sub-Prioress, long weary of promenading, yet
determined not to be left behind while others followed on, exclaimed
that if the eye of the creature were vicious, then must Sister Mary
Seraphine straightway dismount, and the brute be led back to the seat
where the Prioress sat watching.

"To this Seraphine gladly agreed, and a greatly sobered procession
returned to the top of the field.

"But gaiety was quickly restored by the old lay-sister, Mary Antony,
who, armed with the Reverend Mother's permission, insisted on mounting.

"Willing hands, miscalculating the exceeding lightness of her aged
body, lifted her higher than need be, above the back of the palfrey.
Whereupon Mary Antony, parting her feet, came down straddling!

"Firm as a limpet, she sat thus upon Icon. No efforts of the nuns
could induce her to shift her position. Commanding Brother Philip,
seeing 'the Lord Bishop' was now safely mounted, to lead on and not
keep him standing, old Antony rode off in triumph, blessing the nuns
right and left, as she passed.

"Never were heard such shrieks of merriment! Even Mother Sub-Prioress
sank upon a seat to laugh with less fatigue. Sister Seraphine's
fretful complaints were forgotten.

"Twice round the field went old Antony, with fingers uplifted. Icon
stepped carefully, arching his neck and walking as if he well knew that
he bore on his back, ninety odd years of brave gaiety.

"Well, that made of the Play Day a success. But--the best of all was
yet to come."

The Bishop took up the faggot-fork,