frail brother Christopher; and he wished he had been kinder to
both; then he had the thought of his wife and his helpless child, and
all that might befall them. And he thought, too, of God, whom he must
now meet, who seemed to sit like a Judge, in a pavilion of clouds at a
ladder's fiery head, with no smile or welcome for him.

So the Lady Alice went out and brought Brother Lawrence to the
chamber; and at the door he prayed for strength that he might comfort
him that was sick; and Lady Alice pulled the door to and departed; and
the two were left alone.

Then Brother Lawrence murmured a Latin salutation, as the custom of
his order was; and Henry fixed his eyes, large with sickness, on him,
and made a reverence of the head. Then he said, "I wish, sir, I could
give you a better welcome; but I am sick, as you see; indeed, I think
I am very near my end. The Lady Alice would have me see you, for she
says you have wrought wonderful cures. Well, here is a man who is more
than willing to be cured; but I am no saint. I believe in God and Holy
Church; but--I will speak openly--not much in monks and priests."

"As though," said the monk with a smile, "a man should say 'I believe
in food, but not in the eating of it'--yet let that pass, my Lord
Baron; I am no foe to plain speaking--it was ever the mark of Christ
and the holy saints; but let me ask you first about your disease, for
that is my duty now."

Henry was well pleased with the shrewdness of the monk's words; and
he answered the Brother's questions about his illness with a good
grace. When he had done, the monk shook his head. "I must warn you,"
he said, "that it is a sore case; but I have known such recover. I
would have time to consider; let me abide to-night under your roof,
and I will tell you to-morrow what shall be given to me to say;" and
the monk made as though he would have withdrawn.

But Henry said, "One question I would ask of you. I had a brother,
Christopher by name; he is a monk--but he hath sent me no word of
himself for many years--indeed, he may be dead. Can you give me
tidings of him?"

The other grew pale to the lips; then he said, as with an effort, "I
know your brother, my Lord Baron, but the rules of our order--he is of
the same order indeed as myself--are strict, and it is forbidden us to
speak of our brethren to those that are without. Be assured, however,
that he is alive and well; and perhaps you shall have tidings from
himself anon."

The