er will would triumph. But the Bishop wrestled with her
mentality; and behind his calm gentleness was a strength of intellect
which, if she yielded at all, would seize and hold her, as steel
fingers in a velvet glove.

She returned to her seat, composed but determined.

"Reverend Father," she said, "I pray you to pardon my too swift
indignation. To you I look to aid me in this time of difficulty. I
grieve for the sorrow and disappointment to a brave and noble knight, a
loyal lover, and a most faithful heart. But I cannot reward faith with
un-faith. If I broke my sacred vows in order to give myself to him, I
should not bring a blessing to his home. Better an empty hearth than a
hearth where broods a curse. Besides, we never could live down the
scandal caused. I should be anathema to all. The Pope himself would
doubtless excommunicate us. It would mean endless sorrow for me, and
danger for Hugh. On these grounds, alone, it cannot be."

Then the Bishop drew from his sash a folded sheet of vellum.

"My daughter," he said, "when Hugh came to me with his grievous tale of
treachery and loss, he refused to give me the name of the woman he
sought, saying only that he believed she was to be found among the
White Ladies of Worcester. When I asked her name he answered: 'Nay, I
guard her name, as I would guard mine honour. If I fail to win her
back; if she withhold herself from me, so that I ride away alone; then
must I ride away leaving no shadow of reproach on her fair fame. Her
name will be for ever in my heart,' said Hugh, 'but no word of mine
shall have left it, in the mind of any man, linked with a broken troth
or a forsaken lover.' I tell you this, my daughter, lest you should
misjudge a very loyal knight.

"But no true lover was ever a diplomat. Hugh had not talked long with
me, before you stood clearly revealed. A few careful questions settled
the matter, beyond a doubt. Whereupon, my dear Prioress----"

The Bishop paused. It became suddenly difficult to proceed. The clear
eyes of the Prioress were upon him.

"Whereupon, my lord?"

"Whereupon I realised--an early dream of mine seemed promised a
possible fulfilment. I knew Hugh as a lad-- It is a veritable passion
with me that all things should attain unto their full perfection-- In
short, I sent a messenger to Rome, bearing a careful account of the
whole matter, in a private letter from myself to His Holiness the Pope.
Last evening, my messen