"The humble and short-lived attempts were all made first. Then Sister
Mary Seraphine, bidding the others stand aside, was swung by one tall
sister, acting according to her instructions, neatly into the saddle.
"She gathered up the reins, as to the manner born," and bade Brother
Philip loose the bridle. But the palfrey, finding himself no longer
hemmed in by a heated, pressing crowd, gave, for very gladness of
heart, a gay little gambol.
"Whereupon, Sister Mary Seraphine, almost unseated, shrieked to Brother
Philip to hold the bridle, rating him soundly for having let go.
"He then led Icon about the meadow, the nuns following in procession;
Sister Seraphine all the while complaining; first of the saddle, which
gripped her where it should not, leaving an empty space there where
support was needed; then of the palfrey's paces; then of a twist in her
garments--twice the procession stopped to adjust them; then of the ears
of the horse which twitched for no reason, and presently pointed at
nothing--a sure sign of frenzy; and next of his eye, which rolled round
and was vicious.
"At this, Mother Sub-Prioress, long weary of promenading, yet
determined not to be left behind while others followed on, exclaimed
that if the eye of the creature were vicious, then must Sister Mary
Seraphine straightway dismount, and the brute be led back to the seat
where the Prioress sat watching.
"To this Seraphine gladly agreed, and a greatly sobered procession
returned to the top of the field.
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