There was a quality in this motionless silence such as the
Prioress had not connected with her idea of Mary Seraphine's "Cousin
Wilfred."
This was not a man to threaten. Her threat came back to her, as if she
had flung it against a stone wall. She tried another line of reasoning.
"I know you, Sir Wilfred," she said. "And I know why you are here.
You have come to tempt away, or mayhap, if possible, to force away one
of our number who but lately took her final vows. There was a time,
not long ago, when you might have thwarted her desire to seek and find
the best and highest. But now you come too late. No bride of Heaven
turns from her high estate. Her choice is made. She will abide by it;
and so, Sir Knight, must you."
The rain had ceased. The storm was over. Sunshine flooded the cell.
Once more the Prioress spoke, and her voice was gentle.
"I know the disappointment to you must be grievous. You took great
risks; you adventured much. How long you have plotted this intrusion,
I know not. You have been thwarted in your evil purpose by the
faithfulness of one old woman, our aged lay-sister, Mary Antony, who
never fails to count the White Ladies as they go and as they return,
and who reported at once to me that one more had returned than went.
"Do you not see in this the Hand of God? Will you not bow in penitence
before Him, confessing the sinfulness of the thing you had in mind to
do?"
The shrouded head was lifted higher, as if with a proud gesture of
disavowal.
Pages:
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72