eradventure at length somewhat weary him. And therefore wished I
the last time, after you were gone (when I felt myself, to say the
truth, even a little weary), that I had not so told you a long tale
alone, but that we had more often interchanged words, and parted
the talking between us, with more often interparling upon your
part, in such manner as learned men use between the persons whom
they devise, disputing in their feigned dialogues. But yet in that
point I soon excused you and laid the lack where I found it, and
that was even upon mine own neck.

For I remembered that between you and me it fared as it did once
between a nun and her brother. Very virtuous was this lady, and of
a very virtuous place and enclosed religion. And therein had she
been long, in all which time she had never seen her brother, who
was likewise very virtuous too, and had been far off at a
university, and had there taken the degree of Doctor of Divinity.
When he was come home, he went to see his sister, as one who highly
rejoiced in her virtue. So came she to the grate that they call, I
believe, the locutory, and after their holy watchword spoken on
both sides, after the manner used in that place, each took the
other by the tip of the finger, for no hand could be shaken through
the grate. And forthwith my lady began to give her brother a sermon
of the wretchedness of this world, and frailty of the flesh, and
the subtle sleights of the wicked fiend, and gave him surely good
counsel (saving somewhat too long) how he should be well wary in
his living and master well his body for the saving of his soul. And
yet, ere her own tale came to an end, she began to find a little
fault with him and said, "In good faith, brother, I do somewhat
marvel that you, who have been at learning so long and are a doctor
and so learned in the law of God, do not now at our meeting (since
we meet so seldom) to me who am your sister and a simple unlearned
soul, give of your charity some fruitful exhortation. For I doubt
not but you can say some good thing yourself." "By my troth, good
sister," quoth her brother, "I cannot, for you! For your tongue
hath never ceased, but said enough for us both."

And so, cousin, I remember that when I was once fallen in, I left
you little space to say aught between. But now will I therefore
take another way with you, for of our talking I shall drive you to
the one half.

VINCENT: Now, forsooth, uncle, this was a merry tale! But now