wn with compassion
upon the bowed head with its abundant silvery hair.

Even thus, it may be, had he himself wept when, after his time of hard
mental torture, the Angel of the Lord appeared unto him, saying: "Fear
not."

After a while the Bishop left the shrine, went over to the deed chest,
and laid the rose beside the white stone.

"There, my dear Hugh," he murmured; "thy stone, and my rose. Truly
they look well together. Each represents the triumph of firm resolve.
Yet mine will shortly fade and pass away; while thine, dear lad, will
abide forever."

The Bishop seated himself at his table, and sounded the silver gong.

A lay-brother appeared.

"_Benedicite_," said the Bishop. "Request Fra Andrea Filippo at once
to come hither. I must have speech with him, without delay."

CHAPTER LIII

ON THE HOLY MOUNT

On the ninth day since Hugh's departure, the day when fast riding might
make his return possible before nightfall, Mora rose early.

At the hour when she had been wont to ring the Convent bell, she was
walking swiftly over the moors and climbing the heather-clad hills.

She had remembered a little chapel, high up in the mountains, where
dwelt a holy Hermit, held in high repute for his saintliness of life,
his wisdom in the giving of spiritual counsel, and his skill in
ministering to the sick.

It had come to Mora, as she prayed and pondered during the night, that
if she could make full confession to this holy man, he might be able to
throw some clear beam of light upon the dark tangle of her perplexity.

This hope was strongly with her as she walked.

"Lighten my darkness! Lead me in a plain path!" was the cry of her
bewildered soul.

It seemed to her that she had two issues to consider. First: the
question as to whether Hugh, guided by the Bishop, would keep silence;
thus making himself a party to her deception. Secondly: the position
in which she was placed by the fact that she had left the Convent,
owing to that deception. But, for the moment the first issue was so
infinitely the greater, that she found herself thrusting the second
into the background, allowing herself to be conscious of it merely as a
question to be faced later on, when the all-important point of Hugh's
attitude in the matter should be settled.

She walked forward swiftly, one idea alone possessing her: that she
hastened toward possible help.

She did not slacken speed until the chapel came into view, its grey