Serve at the usual hour; and let Abigail ring the Refectory
bell. I am otherwise employed. And remember. Reverend Mother is on
no account to be disturbed."
The porteress, at the gate, jumped well-nigh out of her skin when,
turning, she found Mary Antony at her elbow.
"Beshrew me, Sister Antony!" she exclaimed. "Wherefore"----
"Whist!" said Mary Antony. "Speak not so loud. Now listen, Mary Mark.
Saw you the great Lord Bishop yesterday, a-walking with Mary Antony?
Ha, ha! Yea, verily! 'Worthy Mother,' his lordship called me.
'Worthy Mother,' with his hand upon his heart. And into the gardens he
walked with Mary Antony. Wherefore, you ask? Wherefore should the
great Lord Bishop walk in the Convent garden with an old lay-sister,
who ceased to be a comely wench more than half a century ago? Because,
Sister Mark, if you needs must know, the Lord Bishop is full of anxious
fears for the Reverend Mother, and knoweth that Mary Antony, old though
she be, is able to tend and watch over her. The Lord Bishop and the
Worthy Mother both fear that the Reverend Mother fasts too often, and
spends too many hours in vigil. The Reverend Father has therefore
deputed the Worthy Mother to watch in this matter, and to let him know
at once if the Reverend Mother imperils her health again, by too
lengthy a fast or vigil. And, lo! this very day, the Reverend Mother
purposes not coming to the evening meal, and intends spending the whole
night in prayer and vigil, before our Lady's shrine.
Pages:
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263