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
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