Before she could question the meaning of this, Hugh released her,
gently loosed her hands from about his neck, and led her to a seat.
Then he thrust his hand into his breast, and when he drew it forth she
saw that he held something in his palm, which gleamed as the light fell
upon it.
Standing before her, his eyes bent upon that which lay in his hand,
Hugh spoke.
"Mora, I have to tell thee a strange tale, which will, I greatly fear,
cause thee much sorrow and perplexity. But first I would give thee
this, sent to thee by the Bishop with his most loving greetings; who
also bids me say that if, after my tale is told, thy choice should be
to return to Worcester, he himself will meet thee, and welcome thee,
conduct thee to the Nunnery and there reinstate thee Prioress of the
White Ladies, with due pomp and highest honour. I tell thee this at
once to spare thee all I can of shock and anguish in the hearing of
that which must follow."
Kneeling before her, Hugh laid her jewelled cross of office on her lap.
"My wife," he said simply, speaking very low, with bent head, "before I
tell thee more I would have thee know thyself free to go back to the
point where first thy course was guided by the vision of the old
lay-sister, Mary Antony. Therefore I bring thee thy cross of office as
Prioress of the White Ladies."
She laughed aloud, in the great gladness of her relief; in the rapture
of her pride in him.
"How can _thy wife_ be Prioress of the White Ladies?" she cried, and
caught his head to her breast, there where the jewelled cross used to
lie, raining tears and kisses on his hair.
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