"Such views, my lord, if freely expressed and adopted, would change the
entire monastic system."
"I know it," said the Bishop. "And I would not express them, saving to
you and to one other, to whom I also talk freely. But the older I
grow, the more clearly do I see that systems are man-made, and
therefore often mistaken, injurious, pernicious. But Nature is Divine.
Those who live in close touch with Nature, who rule their lives by
Nature's rules, do not stray far from the Divine plan of the Creator.
But when man takes upon himself to say 'Thou shalt,' or 'Thou shalt
not,' quickly confusion enters. A false premise becomes the
starting-point; and the goal, if it stop short of perdition, is, at
best, folly and failure."
The Bishop paused.
The eyes of the woman before him were dark with sorrow, regret, and the
dawning of a great fear. Presently she spoke.
"To say these things here, my lord, is to say them too late."
"It is never too late," replied Symon of Worcester. "'Too late' tolls
the knell of the coward heart. If we find out a mistake while we yet
walk the earth where we made it, it is not too late to amend it."
"Think you so, Reverend Father? Then what do you counsel me to
do--with Seraphine?"
"Speak to her gently, and with great care and prudence. Say to her
much of that which you have said to me, and a little of that which I
have said to you, but expressed in such manner as will be suited to a
foolish mind.
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