upon her face, back
into those eyes which flamed on him in furious indignation. And in his
own there was a look so sorrowful, so deeply wounded, and yet withal so
tenderly understanding, that it quelled and calmed the anger of the
Prioress.

Her eyes fell slowly, from the serene sadness of that quiet face, to
the silver cross, studded with oriental amethysts, at his breast; to
the sash girdling his purple cassock; to the hand resting on his knees;
to the stone in his ring, from which the rich colour had faded, leaving
it pale and clear, like a large teardrop on the Bishop's finger; to his
shoes, with their strange Italian buckles; then along the floor to her
own angry foot, treading upon the torn fragments of that precious
document, procured, at such pains and cost, from His Holiness at Rome.

Then, suddenly, the Prioress faltered, weakened, fell upon her knees,
with a despairing cry, clasped her hands upon the Bishop's knees, and
laid her forehead upon them.

"Alas," she sobbed, "what have I done! In my pride and arrogance, I
have spoken ill to you, my lord, who have ever shewn me most
considerate kindness; and in a moment of ill-judged resentment, I have
committed sacrilege against the Holy Father, rending the deed which
bears his signature. Alas, woe is me! In striving to do right, I have
done most grievous wrong; in seeking not to sin, lo, I have sinned
beyond belief!"

The Prioress wept, her head upon her hands, clasped and resting upon
the Bishop's knees.

Symon of Worcester laid his hand very gently upon that bowed head, and
as he did so his eyes sought again the figure of the Christ upon the
cross. The Prioress would have been startled indeed, had she lifted
her head and seen those eyes--heretofore shrewd, searching, kindly, or
twinkling and gay,--now full of an unfathomable pain. But, sobbing
with her face hidden, the Prioress was conscious only of her own
sufferings.

Presently the Bishop began to speak.

"We did not mean to overrule your judgment, or to force your
inclination, my daughter. If we appear to have done so, the blame is
mine alone. This mandate is drawn up entirely along the lines of my
suggestion, owing to my influence with His Holiness, and based upon
particulars furnished by me. Now let me read to you the private letter
from the Holy Father to myself, giving further important conditions."

The Bishop drew forth and unfolded the letter from Rome, and very
slowly, that each sy