For as the weather was dry and cold, Lady Montagu had chosen to go on foot; and a grand procession it was that she led, of gentlemen and ladies, two and two, in their bright dresses and adornments that delighted the eyes of the homely yeomen and their wives, flocking in from their homesteads with baskets of offerings, often in kind.

Meantime, Malcolm, holding the tips of Esclairmonde’s fingers, durst not speak till she began:  ’This is a devout and pious household—­full of peace and good government.’

‘And your time goes happily here?’ asked Malcolm.

‘Yes, it has been a peaceful harbour wherein to wait,’ said Esclairmonde.  ’And even if Alice were called to her husband in France, my Lady Countess will keep me with her till there be a vacancy for me at St. Katharine’s.’

‘Have you the promise from Queen Joan?’

‘Yes,’ replied Esclairmonde.  ’The Countess had been a lady of hers, and wrought with her, so that whenever the post of bedeswoman is in her gift I shall be preferred to it.’

‘You, the heiress, accept the charity!’ Malcolm could not help exclaiming.

‘The better for all remnants of pride,’ returned the lady.  ’And you, my lord, has it fared well with you?’

Malcolm, happy in her interest, poured forth all that he had to tell, and she listened as Esclairmonde alone could listen.  There was something in her very expression of attention that seemed to make the speaker take out the alloy and leave only his purest gold to meet her ears.  Malcolm forgot those throbs of foolish wild hope that had shot across him like demon temptations to hermit saints, and only felt that the creature of his love and reverence was listening benignly as he told her of the exceeding delight that he was unravelling in learned lore; how each step showed him further heights, and how he had come to view the Light of the World as the light of wisdom, to the research of which he meant to devote his entire life, among universities and manuscripts.

‘The Light of Wisdom,’ repeated Esclairmonde—­’so it may be, for Christ is Heavenly Wisdom; but I doubt me if the Light of the World lies solely in books and universities.’

‘Nay,’ said Malcolm.  ’Once I was fool enough to fancy it was the light of glory, calling knights to deeds of fame and chivalry.  I have seen mine error now, and—­oh, lady, what mean you? where should that light be, save in the writings of wise and holy men?’

‘Methinks,’ said Esclairmonde, ’that the light is there, even as the light is also before the eyes of the true knight; but it is not only there.’

‘Where is it then?’ said Malcolm.  ’In helmet or in cowl, I am the sworn champion of the Light of the World.’

‘The Light,’ said Esclairmonde, looking upwards, ’the true Light of the World is the Blessed Saviour, the Heavenly Wisdom of God; and His champions find Him and serve Him in camp, cloister, or school, or wherever He has marked their path, so as they seek not their own profit or glory, and lay not up their treasure for themselves on earth.’