ifted from the Knight's brow; his eyes, though
tired, were no longer sombre; his manner was more than usually
courteous and deferential, as if to atone for the defiant brusquerie of
his first appearance.

He listened in absolute silence to the Bishop's gentle flow of
conversation; but this was a trait the Bishop had observed in him
before; and, after all, a lapse into silence could be easily understood
when a man had travelled far, on meagre fare, and found himself seated
at a well-spread board.

Yet the Knight ate but sparingly of the good cheer, so lavishly
provided; and the famous Italian wine, he scarce touched at all.

The meal over, the Bishop dismissed Brother Philip and the attendant
monks, and, rising, went to his chair near the hearth, motioning the
Knight to the one opposite.

Thus they found themselves seated again as they had sat on the night of
the arrival of the Pope's messenger; save that now no fire burned upon
the hearth; no candles were lighted on the table. Instead, the summer
sunshine poured in through open casements.

"Well, my dear Hugh," said the Bishop, "suppose you now tell me the
reason which brings you hither. It must surely be a matter of grave
importance which could cause so devoted a lover and husband to leave
his bride, and go a five days' journey from her, within two weeks of
the bridal day."

"I have come, my lord," said the Knight, speaking slowly and with
evident effort, "to learn from your lips the entire truth concerning
that vision which caused the Prioress of the White Ladies to hold
herself free to renounce her vows, leave her Nunnery, and give herself
in marriage where she had been betrothed before entering the Cloister."

"Tut!" said the Bishop. "The White Ladies have no Prioress. Mother
Sub-Prioress doth exercise the functions of that office until such time
as the Prior and myself shall make a fresh appointment. We are not
here to talk of prioresses, my son, but of that most noble and gracious
lady who, by the blessing of God and our Lady's especial favour, is now
your wife. See to it that you continue to deserve your great good
fortune."

The Knight made no protest at the mention of our Lady; but his left
hand moved to the medallion hanging by a gold chain from his neck,
covered it and clasped it firmly.

The Bishop paused; but finding that the Knight had relapsed into
silence, continued:

"So you wish the entire history of the inspired devotion of the old