CHAPTER XXXVIII
THE BISHOP KEEPS VIGIL
Old Mary Antony lay dying.
The Bishop had not allowed her to be carried from the cell of the
Prioress, to her own.
He had commanded that the Reverend Mother's couch be moved from the
inner room and placed before the shrine of the Virgin. On this lay
Mary Antony, while the Bishop himself kept watch beside her.
The evening light came in through the open casement, illumining the
calm old face, from which the soothing hand of death was already
smoothing the wrinkles.
Five hours had passed since they found her.
It had taken long to restore her to consciousness; and so soon as she
awoke to her surroundings, and recognised Mother Sub-Prioress, and the
many faces around her, she relapsed into silence, refusing to answer
any questions, yet keeping her eyes anxiously fixed upon the door.
Seeing which, Sister Teresa slipped from the room and ran secretly to
tell the Lord Bishop, who had paid but a brief visit to the Palace and
was now pacing the lawn below the cloisters.
The Bishop came at once; when, seeing him enter, Mary Antony gave a
cry, striving to raise herself from the pillows.
Moving to the bedside, the Bishop laid his hand upon the shaking hands,
which had been clasped at sight of him.
An eager question was in the eyes lifted to his.
The Bishop bent over the couch.
"Yes," he said, and smiled.
The anxious look faded. The eyes closed.
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