he abbey knocker since the year

after the battle of bannockburn.

a stranger who knew nothing either of the abbey or of its immense

resources might have gathered from the appearance of the brothers

some conception of the varied duties which they were called upon

to perform, and of the busy, wide-spread life which centred in

the old monastery. as they swept gravely in by twos and by

threes, with bended heads and muttering lips there were few who

did not bear upon them some signs of their daily toil. here were

two with wrists and sleeves all spotted with the ruddy grape

juice. there again was a bearded brother with a broad-headed axe

and a bundle of faggots upon his shoulders, while beside him

walked another with the shears under his arm and the white wool

still clinging to his whiter gown. a long, straggling troop

bore spades and mattocks while the two rearmost of all staggered

along under a huge basket o' fresh-caught carp, for the morrow

was friday, and there were fifty platters to be filled and as

many sturdy trenchermen behind them. of all the throng there was

scarce one who was not labor-stained and weary, for abbot

berghersh was a hard man to himself and to others.

meanwhile, in the broad and lofty chamber set apart for occasions

of import, the abbot himself was pacing impatiently backwards and

forwards, with his long white nervous hands clasped in front of

him. his thin, thought-worn features and sunken, haggard cheeks

bespoke one who had indeed beaten down that inner foe whom every

man must face, but had none the less suffered sorely in the

contest. in crushing his passions he had well-nigh crushed

himself. yet, frail as was his person there gleamed out ever and

anon from under his drooping brows a flash of fierce energy,

which recalled to men's minds that he came of a fighting stock,

and that even now his twin-brother, sir bartholomew berghersh,

was one of the most famous of those stern warriors who had

planted the cross of st. george before the gates of paris. with

lips compressed and clouded brow, he strode up and down the oaken

floor, the very genius and impersonation of asceticism, while the

great bell still thundered and clanged above his head. at last

the uproar died away in three last, measured throbs, and ere

their echo had ceased the abbot struck a small gong which

summoned a lay-brother to his presence.

"have the brethern come?" he asked, in the anglo-french dialect

used in religious houses.

"they are here; "the other answered, with his eyes cast down and

his hands crossed upon his chest.

"all?"

"two and thirty of the seniors and fifteen of the novices, most

holy father. brother mark of the spicarium is sore smitten with

a fever and could not come. he said that--"

"it boots not what he said. fever or no, he should have come at

my call. his spirit must be chastened, as must that of many more

in this abbey. you yourself, brother francis, have twice raised

your voice, so it hath come to my ears, when the reader in the

refectory hath been dealing with the lives of god's most blessed

saints. what hast thou to say?"

the lay-brother stood meek and silent, with his arms still

crossed in front of him.

"one thousand aves and as many credos, said standing with arms

outstretched before the shrine of the virgin, may help thee to

remember that the creator hath given us two ears and but one

mouth, as a token that there is twice the work for the one as for

the other. where is the master of the novices?"

"he is without, most holy father."

"send him hither."

the sandalled feet clattered over the wooden floor, and the iron-

bound door creaked upon its hinges. in a few moments it opened

again to admit a short square monk with a heavy, composed face

and an authoritative manner.

"you have sent for me, holy father?"

"yes, brother jerome, i wish that this matter be disposed of with

as little scandal as may be, and yet it is needful that the

example should be a public one." the abbot spoke in latin now,

as a language which was more fitted by its age and solemnity to

convey the thoughts of two high dignitaries of the order.

"it would, perchance, be best that the novices be not admitted,"

suggested the master. "this mention of a woman may turn their

minds from their pious meditations to worldly and evil thoughts."

"woman! woman!" groaned the abbot. "well has the holy chrysostom

termed them radix malorum. from eve downwards, what good hath

come from any of them? who brings the plaint?"

"it is brother ambrose."

"a holy and devout young man."

"a light and a pattern to every novice."

"let the matter be brought to an issue then according to our old-

time monastic habit. bid the chancellor and the sub-chancellor

lead in the brothers according to age, together with brother

joh