had come, saying, "Make haste and
go back; for they will return anon with others; you know not how dear
it hath cost me." Anthony could see the stranger's face in the gloom,
and he was surprised to see it so youthful; but he saw also that tears
stood in the eyes of the stranger, and that something dark like blood
trickled down his brow; yet he looked very lovingly at him. So Anthony
made haste to go back, and found the door ajar; but as he reached it,
he heard a horrible din behind him, of cries and screams; and it was
with a sense of gratitude, that he could not put into words, but which
filled all his heart, that he found himself back in the cloister
again. And then the vision all fled away, and with a shock coming to
himself, he found that he was lying in his own room; and then he knew
that a battle had been fought out over his soul, and that the evil had
not prevailed.

He was cold and aching in every limb; the room was silent and dark,
with the heavy smell of the burnt drugs all about it. Anthony crept to
the door, and opened it; locked it again, and made his way in the dark
very feebly to his bed-chamber; he had just the strength to get into
his bed, and then all his life seemed to ebb from him, and he lay, and
thought that he was dying. Presently from without there came the
crying of cocks, and a bell beat the hour of four; and after that, in
his vigil of weakness, it was strange to see the light glimmer in the
crevices, and to hear the awakening birds that in the garden bushes
took up, one after another, their slender piping song, till all the
choir cried together.

But Anthony felt a strange peace in his heart; and he had a sense,
though he could not say why, that it was as once in his childhood,
when he was ill, and his mother had sate softly by him while he slept.

So he waited, and in spite of his mortal weakness that was a blessed
hour.

When his man came to rouse him in the morning, Anthony said that he
believed that he was very ill, that he had had a fall, and that the
old doctor must be fetched to him. The man looked so strangely upon
him, that Anthony knew that he had some fear upon his mind. Presently
the doctor was brought, and Anthony answered such questions as were
put to him, in a faint voice, saying, "I was late at my work, and I
slipped and fell." The doctor, who looked troubled, gave directions;
and when he went away he heard his man behind the door asking the
doctor about the strange stor