“Give me counsel, O my father.  Give me counsel.”

“Your own heart is your best counsellor,” was the priest’s answer.  “Go as it guides you, knowing that, through it, it is God who guides.  Nor fear that you will fail.  But if love and the joys of life should leave you, then come back, and we will talk again.  Go on, pure knight of Christ, fearing nothing and sure of the reward, and take with you the blessing of Christ and of his Church.”

“What penance must I bear, father?”

“Such souls as yours inflict their own penance.  The saints forbid that I should add to it,” was the gentle answer.

Then with a lightened heart Godwin returned to the altar rails, while his brother Wulf was summoned to take his place in the confessional.  Of the sins that he had to tell we need not speak.  They were such as are common to young men, and none of them very grievous.  Still, before he gave him absolution, the good Prior admonished him to think less of his body and more of his spirit; less of the glory of feats of arms and more of the true ends to which he should enter on them.  He bade him, moreover, to take his brother Godwin as an earthly guide and example, since there lived no better or wiser man of his years, and finally dismissed him, prophesying that if he would heed these counsels, he would come to great glory on earth and in heaven.

“Father, I will do my best,” answered Wulf humbly; “but there cannot be two Godwins; and, father, sometimes I fear me that our paths will cross, since two men cannot win one woman.”

“I know the trouble,” answered the Prior anxiously, “and with less noble-natured men it might be grave.  But if it should come to this, then must the lady judge according to the wishes of her own heart, and he who loses her must be loyal in sorrow as in joy.  Be sure that you take no base advantage of your brother in the hour of temptation, and bear him no bitterness should he win the bride.”

“I think I can be sure of that,” said Wulf; “also that we, who have loved each other from birth, would die before we betrayed each other.”

“I think so also,” answered the Prior; “but Satan is very strong.”

Then Wulf also returned to the altar rails, and the full Mass was sung, and the Sacrament received by the two neophytes, and the offerings made all in their appointed order.  Next they were led back to the Priory to rest and eat a little after their long night’s vigil in the cold church, and here they abode awhile, thinking their own thoughts, seated alone in the Prior’s chamber.  At length Wulf, who seemed to be ill at ease, rose and laid his hand upon his brother’s shoulder, saying: 

“I can be silent no more; it was ever thus:  that which is in my mind must out of it.  I have words to say to you.”

“Speak on, Wulf,” said Godwin.

Wulf sat himself down again upon his stool, and for a while stared hard at nothing, for he did not seem to find it easy to begin this talk.  Now Godwin could read his brother’s mind like a book, but Wulf could not always read Godwin’s, although, being twins who had been together from birth, their hearts were for the most part open to each other without the need of words.