And, if we were,
methinks we have the right to be together, on the ramparts, or off
them, at any hour of the day or night."
A low wooden seat ran along beneath the parapet.
Mora sat down and motioned the Knight to a place beside her.
"Sit here, Hugh. Then we can talk low."
"I listen better standing," said the Knight; but he came near, put one
foot on the seat, leaned his elbow on his knee, his chin in his hand,
and stood looking down upon her.
"Hugh," she said, "I withstood your pleadings; I withstood the Bishop's
arguments; I withstood the yearnings of my own poor heart. I tore up
the Pope's mandate, and set my foot upon it. I said that nothing could
induce me to break my vows, unless our Lady herself gave me a clear
sign that my highest duty was to you, thus absolving me from my vows,
and making it evident that God's will for me was that I should leave
the Cloister, and keep my early troth to you."
"And gave our Lady such a sign?" asked the Knight, his dark eyes fixed
on Mora's face.
She lifted it, white and lovely; radiant in the moonlight.
"Better than a sign," she said. "Our Lady vouchsafed a wondrous
vision, in which her own voice was heard, giving command and consent."
The Knight, crossing himself, dropped upon his knees, lifting his eyes
heavenward in fervent praise and adoration. He raised to his lips a
gold medallion, which he wore around his neck, containing a picture of
the Virgin, and kissed it devoutly; then overcome by emotion, he
covered his face with his hands and knelt with bowed head, reciting in
a low voice, the _Salve Regina_.
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