The White Ladies of Worcester eBook

Florence L. Barclay
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 445 pages of information about The White Ladies of Worcester.

The White Ladies of Worcester eBook

Florence L. Barclay
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 445 pages of information about The White Ladies of Worcester.

The Prioress smiled; and truly it was a very creditable smile for a face which might have been carved in marble.

“From my knowledge of Sister Mary Seraphine,” she said, “it seems unlikely that for loss of her, so noble a Knight as you describe would be distraught with anguish of heart.”

“Nay, there I do not agree,” said the Bishop.  “It is ever opposites which attract.  The tall wed the short; the stout, the lean; the dark, the fair; the grave, the gay.  Wherefore my stern Crusader may be breaking his heart for your foolish little bird.”

“I do not think so,” said the Prioress, shortly; then hastened to add:  “Not that I would presume to differ from you, Reverend Father.  Doubtless you are better versed in such matters than I. But—­if it be as you suppose—­what measures do you suggest?  How am I to deal with Sister Mary Seraphine?”

The Bishop leaned forward and whispered, though not another soul was within hearing; but at this juncture in the conversation, a whisper was both dramatic and effective.  Also, when he leaned forward, he could almost hear the angry beating of the heart of the Prioress.

The Bishop held the Prioress in high regard, and loved not to distress her.  But he did not think it right that a woman should have such complete mastery over herself, and therefore over others.  A fine quality in a man, may be a blemish in a woman.  For which reason the Bishop leaned forward and whispered.

“Let her fly, my daughter; let her fly.  If his arms await her, she will not have far to go, nor many dangers to face.  Her lover will know how to guard his own.”

“My lord,” said the Prioress, now flushed with anger, “you amaze me!  Am I to understand that you would have me open the Convent door, so that a renegade nun may escape to her lover?  Or perhaps, my lord, it would better meet your ideas if I bid the porteress stand wide the great gates, so that this high-spirited Knight may ride in and carry off the nun he desires, in sight of all!  My Lord Bishop!  You rule in Worcester and in the cities of the diocese.  But I rule in this Nunnery; and while I rule here, such a thing as this shall never be.”

The Prioress flashed and quivered; rose to her feet and towered; flung her arms wide, and paced the floor.

“The Knight has bewitched you, my lord,” she said.  “You forget the rules of our holy Church.  You fail in your trust toward the women who look to you as their spiritual Father and guide.”

The Prioress walked up and down the cell, and each time she passed her chair she wheeled, and gripping the back with her strong fingers, shook it.  Not being able to shake the Bishop, she needs must shake something.

“You amaze me!” she said.  “Truly, my lord, you amaze me!”

The Bishop put on his biretta.

Only once before, in his eventful life, had he made a woman as angry as this.  Very young he was, then; and the angry woman had seized him by his hair.

Copyrights
Project Gutenberg
The White Ladies of Worcester from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.