nature? Nay. To all intents and
purposes, her heart would be a cloistered thing; yet would she be
neither bride of Christ nor bride of man. The fire in his eyes would
indeed have called her to an altar, and the sacrifice laid thereon
would be the full completion of her womanhood.

"I did well to pass into exile," said the Bishop, reviewing the past,
as he rode. Yet deep in his heart was the comfort of those words she
had said: that once he had stood to her for all her heart held dearest.
Mora, the girl, had felt thus; Mora, the woman, remembered it; and the
Bishop, as he thought of both, offered up a thanksgiving that neither
he nor Father Gervaise had done aught which was unworthy of the ideal
of her girlhood's dream.

Gathering up the reins, he urged Shulamite to a rapid trot. There must
be no lingering by the way.

Hasten, Shulamite! Even now the sluice-gates may be opening. Even now
the crystal bowl may be slipping from its pedestal, presently to lie in
a hundred fragments on the ground.

Nay, trotting will scarce do. Gallop, gallop, brave black mare!

The city walls are just in sight.

Well done!

* * * * * *

Not far from the Convent gate, the Bishop chanced, by great good
fortune, upon Brother Philip, trying in the meadows the paces of a
young horse, but lately purchased.

The Bishop bade the lay-brother ride with him to the Nunnery and, so
soon as he should have dismounted, lead Shulamite to the Palace
stables, carefully feed and tend her; then bring him out a fresh mount.

As they rode forward: "Hath any message arrived at the Palace from the
Convent, Philip?" inquired the Bishop.

"None, my lord."

"Or at the Priory?"

"Nay, my lord. But I did hear, at the Priory, a strange rumour"----

"Rumours are rarely worth regarding or repeating, Brother Philip."

"True, my lord. Yet having so lately aided her to ride upon Icon"----

"'Her'? With whom then is rumour making free? And what saith this
Priory rumour concerning 'her'?"

"They say the old lay-sister, Mary Antony, hath fled the Convent."

"Mary Antony!" exclaimed the Bishop, and his voice held the most
extraordinary combination of amazement, relief, and incredulity. "But,
in heaven's name, good brother, wherefore should the old lay-sister
leave the Convent?"

"They say she was making her way into the city in search of you, my
lord; but she hath not reached the Palace."

"Any other rumour, P