'
"This wondrous sight convinced those who saw it that the crucified
Redeemer sympathised with the grievous sorrows of the land.
"But no carven crucifix, wringing its hands before a gazing crowd,
could so deeply convince me of the sympathy of the Redeemer as to sit
alone in mine own chamber and read from the book of Isaiah the Prophet:
'Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows.'"
Mora's brow cleared.
"I think I understand, my lord; and that you should so feel, helps me
to confess to you a thing which I have scarce dared admit to myself. I
found it difficult in mine own soul to attach due weight to our blessed
Lady's words as heard by Mary Antony. Mine own test--the robin's
flight, straight from the hand of the Madonna to the world
without--spoke with more sense of truth to my heart. I blame myself
for this; but so it is. Yet it was the vision which decided me as to
my clear path of duty."
"Doubtless," remarked the Bishop, "the medium of Mary Antony took from
the solemnity of the pronouncement. There would be a twist of
quaintness in even the holiest vision, as described by the old
lay-sister."
"Nay, my lord," said Mora. "Truth to tell, it was not so. Once fairly
started on the telling, she seemed lifted into a strange sublimity of
utterance. I marvelled at it, and at the unearthly radiance of her
face. At the end, I thought she slept; but later I heard from the
Sub-Prioress that she was found swooning before the crucifix and they
had much ado to bring her round.
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