, she touched the little foot of the Babe.

"Give me tenderness," she said, and an agony of supplication was in her
voice; also a rain of tears softened the hard lines of her face.

Our blessed Lady smiled, and the sweet Babe looked merry.

Mother Sub-Prioress passed to the window. The sun, round and blood
red, as at that very moment reflected in Hugh d'Argent's shield, was
just about to dip below the horizon. When next it rose, the day would
have dawned which would see her Prioress of the White Ladies of
Worcester.

She turned to the place where the Prioress's chair of state stood
empty. During the walk to and from the Cathedral, she had planned to
come alone to this chamber, and seat herself in the chair which would
so soon be hers. But now a new humbleness restrained her.

Falling upon her knees before the empty chair, she lifted clasped hands
heavenward.

"O God," she said, "I am not worthy to take Her place. My heart is
hard and cold; my tongue is ofttimes cruel; my spirit is censorious.
But I have learned a lesson from the bird and a lesson from the Babe;
and that which I know not teach Thou me. Create in me a new heart, O
God, and renew a right spirit within me. Grant unto me to follow in
Her gracious steps, and to rule, as She ruled, by that love which never
faileth."

Then, stooping to the ground, she kissed the place where the feet of
the Prioress had been wont to rest.

The sun had set behind the distant hills, when Mother Sub-Prioress rose
from her knees.

An unspeakable peace filled her soul. She had prayed, by name, for
each member of the Community; and as she prayed, a gift of love for
each had been granted to her.

Ah, would they make discovery, before the morrow, that instead of the
brier had come up the myrtle tree?

With this hope filling her heart, Mother Sub-Prioress hastened along
the passage, and rang the Convent bell.

* * * * * *

And at that moment, Mora stood within her chamber, looking over
terrace, valley, and forest to where the sun had vanished below the
horizon, leaving behind a deep orange glow, paling above to clear blue
where, like a lamp just lit, hung luminous the evening star.

Hugh's arms were still wrapped about her. As they stood together at
the casement, she leaned upon his heart. His strength enveloped her.
His love infused a wondrous sense of well-being, and of home.

Yet of a sudden she lifted her head, as if to