Chapter 10 - Page 2

patience for an instant," said the
Sub-Prior; "until I shall inquire--"

"What!" exclaimed the Abbot, observing him for the first time--"Our
dear brother restored to us when his life was unhoped for!--nay, kneel
not to a sinner like me--stand up--thou hast my blessing. When this
villain came to the gate, accused by his own evil conscience, and
crying out he had murdered thee, I thought that the pillar of our main
aisle had fallen--no more shall a life so precious be exposed to such
risks as occur in this border country; no longer shall one beloved and
rescued of Heaven hold so low a station in the church as that of a
poor Sub-Prior--I will write by express to the Primate for thy speedy
removal and advancement."

"Nay, but let me understand," said the Sub-Prior; "did this soldier say
he had slain me?"

"That he had transfixed you," answered the Abbot, "in full career with
his lance--but it seems he had taken an indifferent aim. But no sooner
didst thou fall to the ground mortally gored, as he deemed, with his
weapon, than our blessed Patroness appeared to him, as he averred--"

"I averred no such thing," said the prisoner; "I said a woman in white
interrupted me, as I was about to examine the priest's cassock, for
they are usually well lined--she had a bulrush in her hand, with one
touch of which she struck me from my horse, as I might strike down a
child of four years old with an iron mace--and then, like a singing
fiend as she was, she sung to me.

'Thank the holly-bush
That nods on thy brow;
Or with this slender rush
I had strangled thee now.'

I gathered myself up with fear and difficulty, threw myself on my horse,
and came hither like a fool to get myself hanged for a rogue."

"Thou seest, honoured brother," said the Abbot to the Sub-Prior, "in
what favour thou art with our blessed Patroness, that she herself
becomes the guardian of thy paths--Not since the days of our blessed
founder hath she shown such grace to any one. All unworthy were we to
hold spiritual superiority over thee, and we pray thee to prepare for
thy speedy removal to Aberbrothwick."

"Alas! my lord and father," said the Sub-Prior, "your words pierce my
very soul. Under the seal of confession will I presently tell thee why
I conceive myself rather the baffled sport of a spirit of another
sort, than the protected favourite of the heavenly powers. But first
let me ask this unhappy man a question or two."

"Do as ye list," replied the Abbot--"but you shall not convince me
that it is fitting you remain in this inferior office in the convent