f more. And he answeride to
him, Thou hast demed [doomed, judged] rightly. And he turnide to the
womman, and seyde to Symount, Seest thou this womman? I entride into
thin hous, thou gaf no watir to my feet; but this hath moistid my feet
with teeris, and wipide with her heeris. Thou hast not gouen to me a
cosse [kiss]; but this, sithen sche entride, ceeside not to kisse my
feet. Thou anointidst not myn heed with oyle; but this anointide my
feet with oynement. For the which thing I seye to thee, manye synnes
ben forgiuen to hir, for sche hath loued myche; and to whom is lesse
forgyuen to hir, he loueth lesse. And Jhesus seyde to hir, Thi synnes
ben forgiuen to thee. And thei that saten togider at the mete bigunnen
to seye withinne hemsilf, [themselves], Who is this that forgyveth
synnes? But he seide to the womman, Thei feith hath maad thee saaf; go
thou in pees.'"

Maude added no words of her own. She closed the book, and relapsed into
silence. But Custance's solemn stillness was broken at last.

"`He seide to the womman!'--Wherefore no, having so spoken to the
Pharisee, have left?" [concluded].

"Nay, dear my Lady," answered Maude, "it were not enough. So dear
loveth our good and gentle Lord, that He will not have so much as one of
His children to feel any the least unsurety touching His mercy.
Wherefore He were not aseeth [contented] to say it only unto the
Pharisee; but on her face, bowed down as she knelt behind Him, He
looked, and bade her to be of good cheer, for that she was forgiven. O
Lady mine! 'tis great and blessed matter when a man hath God to his
friend!"

"Thy words sound well," said the low voice from the bed. "Very well,
like the sound of sweet waters far away."

"Far away, dear my Lady?"

"Ay, far away, Maude,--without [outside] my life and me."

"Sweet Lady, if ye will but lift the portcullis, our Lord is ready and
willing to come within. And whereinsoever He entereth, He bringeth
withal rest and peace."

"Rest! Peace!--Ay so. I guess there be such like gear some whither--
for some folks."

"They dwell whereso Christ dwelleth, Lady mine."

"In Paradise, then! I told thee it were far hence."

"Is Paradise far hence, Lady? I once heard say Father Ademar that it
were not over three hours' journey at the most; for the thief on the
cross went there in one day, and it were high noon ere he set out."

Maude stopped sooner than she intended, suddenly checked by a moan of
pai