Fundamentals of Advanced Mathematics 3
Differential Calculus, Tensor Calculus, Differential Geometry, Global Analysis
Henri Bourlès
First published 2019 in Great Britain and the United States by ISTE Press Ltd and Elsevier Ltd
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Thisthirdvolumeof FundamentalsofAdvancedMathematics (thefirsttwo volumesarereferencedby[P1]and[P2]below)isdedicatedtodifferentialand integralcalculus,examinedfromboththelocalandglobalperspectives.Thisbookis intendedforanyonewhousesmathematics(mathematicians,butalsophysicistsand engineers,andinparticularanyonewhoneedstounderstandthecontrolofnonlinear systems).Somelocalquestionsofintegralcalculuswerealreadypartiallyaddressed in[P2],Chapter4,andthenaturalframeworkofdifferentialcalculus,Banachspaces, ispresentedinChapter1ofthisthirdvolume.Nonetheless,wewillneedtoconsider afewgeneralizationstosketchtheso-called“convenient”contextformorerecent developmentsinglobalanalysis;moreonthislater.Wewillalsopresentthe “Carathédoryconditions”,whicharefinerthantheclassicalCauchy–Lipschitz existenceanduniquenessconditionsforsolutionsoffinite-dimensionalordinary differentialequations.
Globalquestionsdemandanotherperspective.Seenthroughourwindow,theEarth appearsentirelyflat,yeteventheGreeksintheageofPlatoknewbetter,astestified byanexcerptfromhis Phaedo (108,e).KnowledgeoftheEarth’sshapeundoubtedly extendedbacktothePythagoreansinthe6thCenturyBC.Thus,Euclid,whowas anavidstudentofPlato’swork(consider,forexample,hisconstructionofthefive PlatonicsolidsinBookXIIIofthe Elements),certainlyalsoknewthattheEarthis round.Yethisgeometryisquitedifferentfromthegeometryofasphere.Euclidean geometryoffersagoodlocalapproximationofsphericalgeometrybutwasofcourse uselessforthelengthyvoyagesoftheRenaissance.Globalanalysismusttherefore beexpressedintheframeworkof manifolds,aconceptwhichgeneralizescurvesand surfacessinceRiemann.
Eversincetheinventionofvariationalcalculusinthelate17thCentury,ithas becomecommoninmathematicstoargueaboutsetsoffunctions.Ifcertain conditionsaresatisfied,thesesetscanbeendowedwiththestructureofamanifold,
inwhichcasetheyarecalled“functionalmanifolds”andimaginedasdeformed versionsoftheusualfunctionspaces(inthesamewaythattheEarthmightbe imaginedasadeformedversionoftheplane).“Banach”manifoldswerethefirst candidatestobeconsideredasaframeworkforglobalanalysisinthelate1950sand the1960s[EEL66,PAL68](thesemanifoldsaredeformedversionsofaBanach space).However,asbecameclearin[P2],section4.3,manyofthefunctionspaces encounteredinpracticearenotBanachspaces.Forexample,thespace E ofinfinitely differentiablefunctionsonanon-emptyopensubsetof Rn isanuclearFréchetspace. Sincethe1980s,thishasinspiredresearchintomanifoldsthataredeformedversions ofspacesofthistype;thisisthe“convenient”contextforglobalanalysismentioned above(whichmaturedaroundthelate1990s[KRI97]).Althoughwewillnotbeable topresentitexhaustivelyinthisbook,ourdiscussionofmanifoldsofmappingsin section5.3willdemonstratetheconsiderablevalueofthisapproach.
Chapters2to4developtherequiredformalism,withabriefdetourinChapter3to introduceanotionthathasplayedafundamentalroleeversinceÉ.Cartan,theconcept offiberbundles,andinparticularprincipalbundles.Accordingtogeneralrelativity, weliveinapseudo-Riemannianspacethatisthe“base”ofaprincipalbundle;the latterisnamelythemanifoldoforthonormalframe,andits“structuralgroup”(which performschangesofreferenceframe)isa“Liegroup”,namelytheLorentz–Poincaré orthogonalgroupofmatricesleavinginvariantthequadraticform (ds)2 = c2 (dt)2 (dx)2 (dy )2 (dz )2 .Tensorcalculus,astapleofphysicstextbookssincetheearly 20thCentury,ispresentedinChapter4,alongsidethetheoryofdifferential p-forms.
OurformalismfirstbeginstotrulybearfruitinChapter5.Distributions,andthe generalizednotionofcurrents,maynowbedefinedonmanifoldsinsteadofopen subsetsof Rn . Theideaofexteriorderivativesofadifferential p-form(introducedby É.Cartan)allowsustogivehighlycondensedexpressionsfortheclassicalformulas of“vectorcalculus”involvinggradients,divergences,Laplacians,etc.Thefirst fundamentalresultofthischapterisageneralformulationofStokes’theorem encompassingtheOstrogradsky,Gauss,Green–RiemannandGreentheoremswidely usedinphysics,aswellasthe“classical”Stokes’theorem.OnaRiemannian manifold,Stokes’theoremenablesustoformulateHodgeduality,whichsimplifies manyofourcalculationsinvolvingvectors.Fromtheperspectiveofalgebraic topology,Stokes’theoremalsogivesrisetotwoothertypesofduality:Poincaré dualityforhomologiesandDeRhamdualityforcohomologies.On R3 , forinstance, weknowthatthecurlofanyvectorfield −→ E thatderivesfromapotentialiszeroand thedivergenceofanyvectorfield → B thatcanbeexpressedasacurlisalsozero. Stokes’theoremallowsustoprovetheconverseofeachclaim.Thesecond fundamentalresultofChapter5istheFrobeniustheorem,whichgivesnecessaryand sufficientconditionsfortheintegrabilityofa“contactdistribution”.Thisallowsusto
establishtheconceptoffoliation.TheFrobeniustheoremalsoimpliesaresultby RiemanninChapter7thatisessentialforgeneralrelativity,namelythata Riemannianmanifoldisflatifandonlyifitscurvaturetensoriszero(section7.4.3, Theorem7.56).
Liegroupsaremanifoldsbutalsogroups;inChapter6,thegroupstructure enablesustoperformoperationsthatwouldnotmakesenseonanordinarymanifold, specificallyconvolutionoffunctionsordistributions.Furthermore,a“taxonomy”of LiegroupscanbeestablishedfromtheLiealgebrasassociatedwitheachgroup, whicharevectorspacesandthereforeeasiertostudy:asaset,theLiealgebra g = Lie (G) oftheLiegroup G isthetangentspace Te (G) of G atthepoint e, where e istheneutralelementof G.However,thethree“fundamentaltheorems”of S.Lieimplythatthereexistsa“dictionary”thatallowsustocharacterizeLiegroups bythepropertiesoftheirLiealgebras,atleastlocally(andgloballyif G issimply connected).TheclassificationestablishedbyLieiscompleteinthecaseofsimpleor semi-simpleLiegroups(oralgebras).Thisisthemostimportantcase,sincetheseare thegroupsfrequentlyencounteredinparticlephysics,wheretheyplayanessential role(includingtheso-called“exceptional”simpleLiealgebras).Simpleand semi-simpleLiealgebrashavebeenstudiedsinceCartanintermsoftheir“root systems”;theabilitytorepresenttheserootsystemsgraphically(asproposedby CoxeterandDynkin,amongothers)isextremelyuseful,butcannotbepresentedin detailinthisbook1.
OnareductiveLiegroup G,wecanalsofullydevelopthetheoryofharmonic analysis(Fouriertransformsoffunctionsortempereddistributions).Theabeliancase willbepresentedindetail:when G = Rn ,werecovertheusualnotionofFourier transform;when G isthetorus Tn ,werecovertheFourierseriesexpansionof periodicfunctionsordistributions.Thenon-abeliancasewouldfillanotherentire volumeandthuswillonlybebrieflymentioned(eventhoughengineering applicationshaverecentlybeenfound[CHI01]).Readersarewelcometorefertothe bibliographyforthenon-abeliancase[VAR77,VAR89].
Definingageometryonamanifoldisequivalenttoequippingthismanifoldwith aconnection(Chapter7).Liegroupsareimplicitlyequippedwithaconnection. Riemannianorpseudo-Riemannianmanifoldsareoftenimplicitlyequippedwiththe simplestpossibleconnection:theLevi-Civitàconnection.Thisisaspecialcaseofa “G-structure”thatisfrequentlyusedingeneralrelativity.É.Cartanclarifiedthe notionofconnection;hestudiedaffine,projectiveandconformalconnections, summarizinghisideasbyproposingtheconceptof“generalizedspace”[CAR26];
1SeetheWikipediaarticleon Coxeter–Dynkindiagrams
thesespacesareequippedwithconnectionscalled Cartanconnections since Ehresmann(whorephrasedtheseideaswithinthecontextofprincipalconnections). Connectionscanbeequippedwithcurvature(anideathatshouldbefamiliarto relativisticphysicists)andinsomecasestorsion,whichattractedconsiderable interestfromEinstein([EIN54],AppendixII),whohopedtofindawaytounifythe theoriesofgravitationandelectromagnetism.
June2019
HenriB OURLÈS
Volume1(Cont’d)
1)Onp.12,thefifthlineof (V) shouldread R insteadof R.
2)Onp.22,ontheright-handsideof[1.6],itshouldread lim ←− insteadof lim −→
3)Onp.41,line10shouldread“thecardinalof G/H (equaltothecardinalof G\H )”insteadof“thiscardinal”.
4)Onp.45,thefirstlineafter[2.12]shouldread M3 insteadof G
5)Onp.190,inDefinition3.177,itshouldread Δn insteadof Δn .
6)Onp.191,inthefirstlineafter[3.70],add“alsodenotedas dp ”after“operator”.
7)Onp.193,line17shouldread Sp insteadof Sn
8)Onp.220,line7shouldread“π = j ∈J πj wheretheelementarydivisors πj arepairwisenon-associatedandmaximalpowers(amongallelementarydivisors)of irreduciblepolynomials”insteadof“π = n i=1 πi ”.
Volume2
1)Onp.12,line6shouldread“K (α )”insteadof“K (α )”.
2)Onp.17,line19shouldread“=”insteadof“=”;line21shouldread“doesnot exist”insteadof“exists”.
3)Onp.20,line11shouldread“0 ≤ i ≤ r ”insteadof“1 ≤ i ≤ r ”.
4)Onp.24,line28shouldread“x ∈ K”insteadof“x ∈ K”.
5)Onp.27,line10shouldread“K”insteadof“K”.
6)Onp.32,line3shouldread“a isnotoftheform bn ,b ∈ K”insteadof“an / ∈ K”;line5shouldread“ζ ”insteadof“ς ”.
7)Onp.43,inline10,after“yields”,add“with j =0,...,n 2”;thelastsumof line11shouldread“u(j ) i ”insteadof“u(j +1) i ”.
8)Onp.51,replacethesentencebeginningline23by:“Thecoefficients c and d arefreeparameters,theformerin C, thesecondin C× ; indeed,putting M = C t,e t2 /2 wehavethatGalD (N, M)= C, GalD (M, K)= C× , which yieldstheshortexactsequenceofAbeliangroups 0 −→ C −→ G −→ C× −→ 0, in otherwords G isanextensionof C× by C ([P1],section2.2.2(II)).”.
9)Onp.57,line2shouldread“nonemptyset”insteadof“set”.
10)Onp.62,lines27,29;onp.63,lines3,8;onp.64,lines7,9:itshouldread “ xj j ∈J ”insteadof“ xj i∈J ”.
11)Onp.83,line22shouldread“smallest”insteadof“largest”and“=”instead of“=”.
12)Onp.91,line28shouldread“j i0 ”insteadof“j ≥ i0 ”.
13)Onp.92,inline19,addafterthelastsentence:“Thisextensionisthenunique.”.
14)Onp.95,line8shouldread“∀ (x ,x )”insteadof“∀ (x ; x )”.
15)Onp.105,line25shouldread“∀i i0 ”insteadof“∀i i0 ”.
16)Onp.119,line17shouldread“K”insteadof“K”.
17)Onp.128,lines1,2shouldread“(iv)”insteadofthesecond“(iii)”and“(v)” insteadof“(iv)”.
18)Onp.132,line20shouldread“ξx0 → ξ ”insteadof“ξ → ξx0 ”.
19)Onp.133,inline14,delete“in Lcsh”.
20)Onp.135,lines19–21shouldread“reduced ifforall i ∈ I, theprojection pri (E ) , wherepri isthecanonicalprojection i Ei Ei , isdensein Ei ”insteadof “decreasing [ ] Tj )”;inlines27–31,replaceStatement2)ofRemark3.33by:“Every projectivelimitcanbeputintotheformofareducedprojectivelimit:if Fi = pri (E ) and ψ j i istherestrictionof ψ j i to i Fi , then E isthesubspace i j ker ψ j i of i Fi .”.
21)Onp.137,thelastlineshouldread“ p n i=1 xi p ”insteadof “ p n i=1 xi P ”.
22)Onp.141,inlines24,26,delete“decreasing”.
23)Onp.142,inlines10,11,delete“issurjective(ibid.)and”.
24)Onp.144,line11shouldread“boundedin F ”insteadof“boundedin M ”.
25)Onp.168,line13shouldread“x ∈ A”insteadof“x ∈ R”.
26)Onp.150,inline6,delete“decreasing”;line8shouldread“mapping”instead of“surjection”and“→”insteadof“ ”.
27)Onp.172,inline25,itshouldread“exact”insteadof“quasi-exact”;delete “andfrom FSop to Sil”andNote17.
28)Onp.173,inline2,delete“strict”;line5shouldread“an”insteadof“a strict”;inline7,delete“strict”andread“Silva”insteadof“(FS )-”;line8should read“−→”insteadof“ →”and“mapping”insteadof“injection”;inline8,itshould read“mapping”insteadof“surjection”,“−→”insteadof“ →”anddelete“strict”;in line10,itshouldread“(FS )-”insteadof“Silva”;replacelines13–27by:“(1)Since thespaces (Ei )b areFréchet,theyarebornological,andtheirinductivelimitsaswell. ThustheyareMackeyspacesandtheresultfollowsfrom([SCF99],ChapterIV, Section4.4).(2)The Ei arereflexive (DF ) spaces,andtheresultfollowsfrom([SCF 99],Exercise24(f),p.197).”.
29)Onp.174,inline2,delete“increasing”;inline3,itshouldread“mapping” insteadof“injection”and“−→”insteadof“ →”.
30)Onp.175,line14shouldread“L (R; S )”insteadof“L (R,S )”.
31)Onp.177,lines8,9shouldread“ u∈H,x1 ∈A1 u (x1 ,A2 )”insteadof “ u∈H,x1 ∈A1 ”.
32)Onp.185,line5shouldread“such”insteadof“any”;lines15,23shouldread “≥”insteadof“≤”.
33)Onp.186,line11shouldread“| ei |x |2 ”insteadof“ ei |x 2 ”.
34)Onp.188,inline27,add“salient”after“closed”.
35)Onp.193,inline12,add“,v = r i=1 xi ⊗ yi ”attheendoftheline.
36)Onp.200,inline4,change δa (a) to δa (A.)
37)Onp.204,inline5,suppressthesign .
38)Onp.204,line21shouldread“ p |f |p .dμ”insteadof“ p |f | .dμ”.
39)Onp.218,thethirdlineoftheproofshouldread “ 1 h (f (x + h) f (x)) g (c) ”insteadof“ 1 h |f (x + h) f (x)|”.
40)Onp.230,inline16,add“nonzero”after“many”.
41)Onp.253,inlines1,3,delete“strict”;inline26,add“denotedby Cr (0)”after “plane”.
42)Onp.299,line18shouldread“isan A-module”insteadof“isthe Amodule W ”.
43)Onp.204,line13shouldread“equation”insteadof“solution”.
44)Onp.247,changelines1,2to“givenbythefunctionswithabsolutevalue upperboundedbytheabsolutevalueofapolynomial,andtheirpartialderivativesof allordersaswell”.
ListofNotations
Chapter1:DifferentialCalculus
∞,ω, NK , N× K ,p.2
O (f ) ,o (f ):Landaunotation,p.2
E∨ :dualof E,p.2
|.|γ , . γ ,p.2
Ln,s (E ; F ):spaceofsymmetricelementsof Ln (E; F),p.2
u.hn ,p.2
D f (a), df (a), f (a):(Fréchet)differentialof f atthepoint a,p.6
˙ f (a):derivativeof f atthepoint a,p.6
Da (A; F ),p.6
rka (f ),p.6
grada (f ) , ∇a f :gradientof f atthepoint a,p.6
Di f (a) ,∂i f (a) , ∂f ∂xi (a):partialdifferential,partialderivative,p.8
∂ (f 1 ,...,f n )
∂ (x1 ,...,xn ) (a):Jacobian,p.8
C p (A; F ),p.10
Hf (a):Hessianmatrix,p.11
N :Nemitskyoperator,p.11
ev:evaluationoperator,p.11,186
N = N ∪{+∞},p.26
FB ,p.12
b a f (t) dt,p.13
D α :partialdifferentialoforder α,p.16
S (E; F):spaceofformalseries,p.16
S (E; F):spaceofconvergentseries,p.17
ρ (S):radiusofconvergence,p.17
C ω (A; F ),p.17
fa ,p.17
δ f (a) ,δ 2 f (a):first,secondLagrangevariation,p.28
D G f (a):Gateauxdifferential,p.28
c∞ E,p.32
c∞ , cω ,p.33
ϕ (.; t0 ,x0 ),p.41
Φ(t2 ,t1 ):resolvent,p.44
ϕλ = ϕ (.,t0 (λ) ,x0 (λ)),p.46
Chapter2:DifferentialandAnalyticManifolds
(U,ϕ, E) , (U,ϕ,m):chart,p.51,52
dim(M ) , dimx (M ):dimension,p.52
Ta (M ):tangentspace,p.59
θ
c : Ta (M ) → E,ϑc = θ 1 c ,p.59
S r a (M ):spaceofgermsofstationaryfunctionsatthepoint a,p.61
∂
∂ξ j a ,p.61
LXa :Liederivative,p.62
γi∗0 ,∂i (a) ,∂i |a ,p.64
Xa .f ,p.64
Ta (f ) ,f∗a ,f∗ (a):tangentlinearmapping,p.65
rka (f ):rankofamorphism,p.66
da f :differential,p.66
T i (a1 ,a2 ) (f ),p.75
M1 ×Z M2 , f1 ×Z f2 :fiberproduct,p.79
t fa :cotangentlinearmapping,p.80
LieGrp:categoryofLiegroups,p.81
G◦ :neutralcomponentof G,p.83
Tn : n-dimensionaltorus,p.82
H K = K H = H ×τ K:semi-directproductofsubgroups(H normal)
V ∞ ,p.84
λ (s) , ρ (s):left,righttranslation,p.88
GL (E):automorphismgroupof E,p.82
Un (C) , On (R) , SLn (K) , SOn (R), SUn (C):unitary,orthogonal,speciallinear, specialorthogonal,specialunitarygroup,p.86
Z (G):centerof G,p.87
PGLn (K) , PSLn (R) , POn (K) , PSOn (K) , PUn (C):projectivegenerallinear, projectivespeciallinear,projectiveorthogonal,projectivespecialorthogonal, projectiveunitarygroup,p.87
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WewenttotheTowerandsawthelions—twoveryfinefellows—aleopardandsomeother wildcreatures,andenjoyedthefearfulpleasureoffeedingthegreatbrownbearwith cakes.Onthewayhome,myuncletookustoseesomeofthegoldsmiths'andotherfine shops,andboughtuseachafairing.Atoneplace,asilkmercer's,heaskedtheelderly maninattendanceabouthisson.
"Hehathnotyetreturned,"saidtheoldman,shakinghishead;"adangerousservice, MasterCorbet adangerousservice;butwemustnotwithholdevenIsaacwhentheLord callsforhim."
"Trulynot,mybrother,"answeredmineuncle;"butIhopetheneedoftheseperilous journeysmaysoonbepast.IhearditfromonethatknowswhatgoesonatCourt,thathis Graceisliketobemovedofhisroyalbountytogivetothislandafreegospelbeforelong."
Theoldman'sfacelightedup:"TheLordfulfillit—theLordfulfillit,MasterCorbet.But thinkyouitistrue?TheChancellorisverybitteragainstMasterTyndale?"
"TheChancellorisliketoneedhisbreathtocoolhisownporridge,ifalltalesbetrue,"said myuncle;"butthisisnottheplace,nordoesitbecomeustobetalkingofsuchmatters.I hopeyoursonmaysoonreturninsafety."
Whenwereachedhome,whichwedidintimeforsupper,Bettywasmissing.Anne,the laundry-woman,sleptinourroomthatnight.ThenextdayweheardthatBettyhadbeen senttoherhomeinthecountry,andoldMadgehadgonewithher,notchoosingtostay afterherfavoritegrandchildwasdisgraced.Idon'tthinkmyauntwasverysorrytohave theoldwomangoofherownaccord,thoughshewouldneverhavesentheraway,forthe poorthingwasgrownsocankeredandjealousthatshekeptthehouseinhotwater.After Betty'sdeparture,someoftheothermaidswereveryforwardintheirtalesofher dishonestpracticesandrunningoutofnights,butmyaunttreatedthesetaleswithvery littleceremony,sayingthatthetimetohavetoldthemwasnotbehindBetty'sback,but whenshewastheretospeakforherself.Ihardlyeversawanyonewithsuchastrong senseofjusticeasAuntJoyce.Itshoweditselfinallshedid,andwasonesecretofher successingoverningahousehold.
Thingshadnowreturnedtotheirusualcourse.Iwentaboutmylessonsandmyplaywith theotherchildren,and,warnedbywhathadhappened,wascarefultogivenojustcause ofoffense.Myunclewaskindertomethanever,buttherewasacloudonhisbrowanda lookofsadnessonhisfacewhenhiseyesrestedonmethatIcouldnotunderstand,and whichmademevaguelyuneasy.
OnceIheardmyauntsayinatoneofdeepregret,"Ah,nephew,ifonlyyouhadnotbeen sohasty."
Andmyunclemuttered,"Meaculpa,meaculpa,"andhidhisfaceinhishands.
ItwasabouttwoweeksaftertheaffairoftheflowersthatIwascominginfromthe garden,whenIsawsomeonethatIknewtobeapriestbyhisdress,passingintomine uncle'sprivateroom.Iwasnotgreatlysurprised,forwehadmanyclericalvisitors,but theywereusuallysecularpriests,whilethismanwasaregular.
Iwentuptomyroom—wehadbeenpromotedtothetapestryroomsinceMadgewent away,andfeltquitegrownupinconsequence—washedmyhands,andputonaclean kerchiefandpinafore,thoseIworebeingtheworseformylaborsinthegarden.AsIwas finishingmydressingoperations,myauntenteredtheroom,andIsawinamomentthat shehadbeenweeping.Allofasudden—Idon'tknowhow acoldweightseemedtofallon
myheart.Ihavehadmanysuchpremonitionsofevilinmyday,andtheyhavenevercome withoutcause.
"Mydearchild,"saidshe,andthenshefella-weepingasifherheartwouldbreak,fora minuteortwo,Istandingby,wonderingwhatcouldhavehappened,andfeelingsurethat whateveritwas,itconcernedmyself.Allofasudden,anotioncameacrossme,andIcried outinanguish:
"Oh,aunt,havetheycometotakemeawaytotheconvent?"
"Itisevenso,mychild,"saidmyaunt,commandingherselfwithagreateffort."The prioressoftheconventatDartfordhathsentforyou,andmynephewhathnochoicebut toletyougo."
Ifatreethatistornupbytherootscanfeel,itmustfeelverymuchasIdidthatmorning. Ihadtakenverydeeprootinmynewhome,and,exceptduringthesadtimewhenIwas introubleabouttheflowers,Ihadbeenveryhappy.Ihadcometolovemyauntanduncle dearly,andthetwinshadbecome,asitwere,apartofmyveryheart.Ilovedthe pleasant,easywaysofmyuncle'shousehold,whereeachwasmadecomfortableaccording tohisdegree;whereabundanceandcheerfulhospitalitysatattheboard,andpeaceand lovewereourchamber-mates,andwatchedoverourpillows.Myunclewashastytempered,itwastrue,butevenachildasIwascouldseewhatawatchhekeptover himselfinthisrespect.
Butalas,andwoeisme.Suchatemperislikeapackageofgunpowder.Thefirethereofis outinaninstant,butinthatinstantithathdonedamagethatcanneverberepaired.
Iwasabsolutelystrickendumbbythegreatnessofthecalamitywhichhadovertakenme, andcouldnotspeakaword.Ithinkmyauntwasfrightenedatmysilence;forshekissed andtriedtorouseme.AtlastIfaltered—
"MustIgoto-day?"
"Ifearso,mydearlamb.Theprioressoftheconventhassentforyoubythehandsof theirpriest,andastwoladiesaretotraveldownintoKentwithhim,youwillbewell attended."
Withthat,myauntbestirredherself,andcalledAnne,thelaundry-woman,tohelpin gettingmyclothestogether.Thetwinshadcomeinbythattime;theyhadbeenawayto visitsomeoldkinswomanoftheirmother's,andtheyhadtobetoldthenews:Both KatherineandAvicecriedbitterly,butIcouldnotcry.Iwaslikeonestunned.
Atlast,atmyuncle'ssummons,Iwascalleddowntotheparlortospeakwiththepriest. Hewasagood-naturedlooking,easy-goingspecimenofaregular,andgreetedmekindly enough,bestowinghisblessingasIkneeledtoreceiveit,inthatrapid,mechanicalfashion IsowellrememberedinFatherBarnabyandFatherJohn.
"Andsoyouarecomingtotheconventtobeaholysister,asmygoodLadyPeckham desires!"saidhe.Thentomyuncle:"Intruth,'tisafairoffering,MasterCorbet.Ialmost wonderthathavingsuchajewelinyourhands,youshouldgiveherup—thatis,ifshebe astowardlyassheisfairofface?"
"Lovedayisagoodchildinthemain,thoughshehasherfaultsandfollieslikeother children!"repliedmyuncle.
"Andgrownfolks,too,eh,MasterCorbet?"saidthepriest,withajollylaugh."Idon'tknow thatthefolliesofyouthareworsethanthefolliesofage,doyou?"
"Theyarenotatenthpartasbad!"saidmineuncle,withagooddealofbitterness."'There isnofoollikeanoldfool,'isatrueandpithysaying."
"Evenovertrue!"returnedthepriest;thenturningtome:"Well,daughter,youmusthave wonderedthatyouwereleftsolong,thatis,ifyouthoughtofitatall.Thetruthis,Sister Benedict,whohadthematterincharge,diedsoonaftershecametous,andtheaffairwas quiteforgotten,tillyourgooduncle'sletterremindingtheprioressofherduty;shelooked oversomepapersSisterBenedicthadleft,andfoundmyLadyPeckham'sletter."
Soitwasmyuncle'sdoing.Irememberedallatoncehisownwords:"Iwillnothavean obstinateliarinmyfamily—"andthecloudthathadrestedonhisbroweversince.Hehad donethedeedinoneofhishastyfitsoftemper,andonlyforhim,theprioresswouldnever havethoughtofsendingforme.
Folksareapttotalkslightinglyofthesorrowsofchildhood,buttheymustbethosewhodo notremembertheirown.Whenacupisfull,itisfull,andthatwhetheritholdagillora gallon.Ihadbeenunhappyenoughbeforeattheprospectofgoingaway,butthat unhappinesswasnothingtothetideofwretchedness,ofdisappointedloveandimpotent angerthatsweptoverme.IthinkmyfirstclearthoughtwasthatIwouldneverletmy uncleseethatIwassorrytogoaway.SowhenthepriestaskedmeagainwhetherIwould liketogototheconventIcourtesiedandsaid,inavoicewhichdidnotsomehowseemto bemyown:
"Yes,reverendfather,Ishalllikeitverymuch!"
Myunclelookedatmewithafaceofgrievedsurprise.
"Areyouindeedsogladtoleaveus,niece!"saidhe.
"Iamgladtogo,ifyouwantmetogo,uncle!"Ianswered,inthesamehardvoice."I don'twanttostaywhenyouwanttogetridofme,only—"andhereIbrokedown—"onlyI wishtheyhadburiedmeinthesamegravewithmyfatherandmother,andthenIshould notbegivenawayfromonetoanother,likeapoorfooloradogthatisineveryone's way!"
IdothinkIwastheboldest,naughtiestchildthateverlived,orIshouldnothavedaredto speaksotomyelders.
Myunclestartedfromhischairasifsomethinghadstunghim,andwenthastilyoutofthe room.
Thepriestlookedoutofthewindow.Myauntlaidherhandonmyshoulderwiththatsoft yetfirmtouchwhichalwayshadagreateffectincalmingmytantrums,asoldMadgeused tocallthem,andwhisperedmetorecollectmyselfandnotangermyuncle.
PresentlyFatherAustincalledmetohim,andbeganinagentle,fatherlyway,totellme howpleasantwastheprioryatDartford,whatanicegardentheladieshad,andwhatfine sweetmeatstheymade—talkingasonelikehimselfwouldnaturallytalktoachild.Hewas everakindsoul,andgladIamthatIhavehaditinmypowertosuccorhisreverendage. Butthatisgoingaverylongwaybeforemytale.
"Itrusttheladyprioresswillbekindtomyniece,"saidmyAuntJoyce.
"Ithinkyouneedhavenofearonthatscore,"answeredFatherAustin;"thoughthelittle oneisnotliketohavemuchtodowithher.Shewillbeunderthecareofthemistressof thenovices,anexcellentwoman,thoughIsayitthatshouldnot,shebeingmineown sister,andyouneedhavenofearsforherwell-being."
Sambonowannounceddinner,andmyauntledthewaytothedining-room,whereshe hadpreparedquiteafeasttodohonortoourguest,andperhapstoputhiminagood humor,thoughthatwasquiteneedless.Ithinkthegoodmanwastheonlyonewho enjoyedthecollation,thoughmyunclestrovetoeatoutofcourtesy,andmyauntheaped myplatewithdelicacieswhichIcouldnottouch.
"Andnowwemustbestirring,forthedaysgrowshorterthantheywere,andIwouldfain beathomebeforedark,thoughwetravelingoodcompany,"saidthepriest."Thereare twoyoungladiesofthefamilyofSirJamesBrandonwhotraveldownwithus,andthe knightwillsendasufficientescortwiththem.So,ifitpleaseyou,MistressHolland,letthe childbemadereadyassoonasmaybe."
"Herpackingisalldone,anditremainsbuttosayfarewell,"saidmyaunt."Mynephew hathalsoprovidedtwoservingmen,onetoridebeforeLoveday,andtheothertodrive downandbringbacktheSumptermule."
"Sumptermule!Whatisthataboutasumptermule?"askedFatherAustin."Doesmy youngmistressneedasumptermuletocarryhercourtdresses?Shewillhavesmallneed offinerywheresheisgoing,MistressHolland."
"Achildofeightyearshassmallneedoffineryanywhere,tomythinking,"answered MistressHolland."Iamnotonethatlikestoseeayoungmaiddizzenedout.Butmy brotherhaspreparedapresentfortheladies."
"ButawebortwoofHollandsandblackCypruslawn,withsomepacketsofspices,sugar, andthelike,"saidmyuncle,carelessly."Andsinceyourreverenceispleasedtolikethe whitewine,Ihaveorderedacasetobeputupforyourowndrinking.'Tisalightand wholesomebeverage."
"Manythanks—manythanks!"saidthemonk."Somepeoplemightsayyoumeantto secureagoodreceptionforyourniece—but,indeed,youneednotfearforher,"headded, kindly."ThehouseatDartfordisofgoodrepute,andourprioressisamostexcellentlady, ofthenoblefamilyofPercy.Mostofoursistersarealsogentlewomenofgoodfamily.I giveyoumyword,MasterCorbet,thatMistressLovedayshallhaveeverycare,thoughI darenotpromisehersuchfeastsandluxuriesasMistressHollandprovides."
"Luxuriesareoflittleaccounttochildren,butkindnessiseverything,"saidmyuncle.
"Andthat,Ipromiseyou,sheshallnotlack,"answeredthepriest,seriously;then,turning tome:"Come,daughter,askyouruncle'sblessing,andtakeleaveofyourcousins.Some day,perhaps,theymaycomeandseeyou,butitskillsnotlingeringwhenpartingmust comeatlast."
Mechanically,Ikneeledtomyuncle,whofoldedmeinhisarms.
"Theblessingandprayersofanunworthysinnergowiththee,mypoorchild!"saidhe. "Remember,whateverhappens,thouwilteverhaveahomeandaportioninthyuncle's house."
"Shemayneedityet,ifthingsgoonastheyhavebegun,"mutteredthepriest.
Mycousinskissedme,andsobbedouttheirfarewellsaswellastheycouldforweeping.I wentouttothesidedoor,wherethepriest'ssleekmule,andmyuncle'stwomenwere waitingwiththeiranimals.Myunclekissedmeagainasheliftedmetomyplacebehind JacobSaunders,andwhispered:
"Ishallcometoseetheesoon,dearchild.Trytobehappy,andremembermyhouseand heartarealwaysopenwhenyouneedahome."
"Whydidyousendmeaway,then?"Isaidbitterly,moretomyselfthanhim.
Heheardmethough,andanswered,solemnly:
"BecauseIwasahastyfool,child.Prayforyourpooruncle,andifyoucan,foryourown sake,forgivehim."
Thepriestnowmountedhismule,andexchangedacourteousfarewellwithmyuncleand aunt.Thebeastswereputinmotion,weturnedthecorner,andinamoment,Ilostsight ofthehousewhereIhadbeensohappyforfourlongmonths.ItwasmanyayearbeforeI sawitagain.Soclosedonechapterofmylife.ItalwaysdidseemtomethatIleftmy childhoodbehindmeatthatmoment.
IhavebeenthemoreparticularinmyaccountofmydaysinLondon,asmattershaveso greatlychangedsincethattime.Thelittlealmshouseswhereweusedtogotocarrymilk tothepoorbedesmenandwomenareallsweptaway,andthegroundmostlybuiltover WhatbecameoftheoldpeopleIknownot,butSirThomasAudleycameintopossessionof theland,whichheafterwardgavetoMaudlinCollegeatCambridge.Thereisnota religiousfoundationofanykindleftinLondon,andSt.Anthonyandhispigsareequallyto seek.St.Paul'shathbeenburnedtotheground—bylightning,aswasbelievedatthetime andlongafter,tillthesextonconfessedonhisdeath-bedthatitwasbyhisownfault and isnowinprocessofrebuilding.
ThecityofLondonisalmosttwiceaslargeasitwasthen;manyplaceswhichIknewas openfieldsbeingbuiltup,andwholestreetsstretchingoutintothecountry.America, whichatthattimewasnotknowntomanypeopleatall—IamsureIneverheardofittillI cametoLondon—isnowvisitedbyEnglishshipseveryyear,andmerchandisebrought fromthence.Itisachangedworld,andonthewholemuchforthebetter,whateverold folksmaysay.
CHAPTER IV.
WHENwereachedtheStrand,wefoundtherestofourescortwaitingforusbeforea handsomehousewhichIhadoftenseeninmywalks.Thereweretwoorthreestout fellowswell-armed,andasober,somewhatvinegar-facedman,dressedlikeastewardor somethingofthatsort.Twoothermenledpalfreyscaparisonedforwomen'suse.Aswe drewnearandjoinedthegroup,thedooropenedandtwoladieswereledforth.Theywere closelyveiled,yetIcouldseethatonewasyoungandhandsome.Asshewasputuponher horse,sheraisedherveilforamomentandlookedaboutwithawild,despairingglance, likethatofsomesmall,helpless,trappedanimal,seekingawayofescape.Inamoment, theveilwasdroppedagain,theotherladymountedherhorse,andthewholecavalcade setforwardasbrisklyasthestateoftheroadwouldpermit.
Thefresh,sharp,autumnair;thequickmovement,andthechangeofscene,rousedmea littlefromtheheavystuporofgriefandrage—Iknownotwhatelsetocallit whichhad oppressedme,andIbegantolookaboutme.FatherAustinseemedtonotethechange, andbegangentlytopointoutdifferentobjectsofinterest.Heshowedmethehousewhere hehimselfwasbornandbroughtup—acomfortableoldredbrickhall,lookinglikethevery homeofpeaceandplentyinitsancientelmandnuttrees,andbegantotellmelittletales ofhisboyhood,ofhismotherandsistersandhispetrabbits.
AtfirstIwasconsciousofnothingbutawishtobeletalone,butalmostinsensiblyIbegan tolisten,tobeinterested,andaskedlittlequestions.Thesharp,heavydistresswasatmy heartstill,butasonesufferingfromthepainofawoundisyetwillingtobealittlediverted fromhismisery,albeitthepainisnotlessenedthereby,soIwasnotsorrytolistentothe kindfather'stale.Presentlywepassedabuildingshutinbyhighwalls,likeaconvent,and astheroadwoundclosebythegate,wecouldhearwithinsoundsofsomewhatunbridled mirthandlaughter
"Whathouseisthat?"askedthesteward,whorodeclosebyus.
"ItwasthehouseofOurLordonce,"saidthefather,dryly."NowitbelongstoMaster Cromwell."
Themanbithislipasifhehadreceivedsomesortofcheck,andfellbackalittle.The housewas,infact,oneofthemanysmallconventswhichhadfallenduringthepastfew years.
Westoppedataway-sideinnforsomerefreshment,andoneofthemenbroughtmea glassofsmallale,butIcouldnottakeit,andbeggedforadrinkofpurewaterinstead.My headached,andIfeltparchedwiththirst.Thepriestaskedthebuxomhostesswho broughtmethewater,iftherewereanynews.
"Nothingyourreverence,savethatthefoxeshavecaughtandcarriedofftwoorthree lambs,but'tisthoughttheirdenwillbebrokenupbeforelong."
Isawtwoorthreeofthemenwhowerestandingaboutwinkateachotherasiftherewere somejestconcealedunderthewoman'swords.FatherAustinansweredhergently:
"Therearemanysortsoffoxes,andotherbeastsalso,whichspoiltheflocks,andthe worstofall,arewolveswhichcomeinsheep'sclothing:rememberthat,mydaughter."
YounganddistraughtasIwas,Icouldnotbutnoticethedifferencebetweenthetreatment ofthepriesthere,andthatwhichhewouldhavereceivedinourneighborhoodatPeckham
Hall.There,whenevertheabbotorFatherBarnabyrodeabroad,allbowedbeforethem,as iftheyhadbeenthepopehimself,andevenourownoldfat,sleepySirJohn,wasgreeted withbaredheads;buthere,suchaswemetcontentedthemselveswithacarelessliftingof hatorcapforamoment,andmanygaveFatherAustinnogreetingatall.Othersonthe contrarywereveryforwardincravinghisblessing,evenkissingthehemofhisrobeorthe furnitureofhismule.
Thetwoladiesrodealongclosetogether,butnever,thatIcouldsee,exchangingaword. However,theelderdidspeaktotheyoungeronceortwice,butshegotnoanswersavean impatientshakeofthehead.Itwasnowdrawingtowardevening,andIwellremember howthelevelraysofthesettingsunshonethroughtheorchards,makingtheripening applesglowlikeballsofgoldandfireamongtheduskyleaves.Thesightrecalledsoclearly tomymindtheorchardsofmynativeWestCountry,thatwhenweascendedalittlerising ground,andthepriestremarkedthatweshouldsoonseehome,Ilookedout,expecting foramomenttobeholdthegraybattlementsofPeckhamHall.Butnodoubtmyheadwas bewilderedeventhenbythefeverwhichwasstealingoverme.
"There,daughters,thatisyourfuturehome,"saidFatherAustin,pointingdownward,when wehadattainedthetopofthelittleeminence.
Theyoungerladyutteredanexclamationofsomesort,andturnedherhorseasthough shewouldhavefled,buthersisterandthestewardbothatoncelaidtheirhandsuponher bridlerein,andshemadenofurthermove.Irousedmyselffromthesortofstuporthat wasbewilderingme,andlooked.Isawalargegardenandorchard,surroundedbyahigh stonewall,havinganembattledgateway.Inthemidstwasapileofoldredbrickbuildings andachurch.ThelittleriverDarentrancloseby,andastreamseemedtobediverted fromittowatertheconventgrounds;Icouldseethewatersparklinginthesun.Itwas,I suppose,thehourofrecreation;forvariousblack-veiledandwhite-veiledfigureswere walkingintheorchardandgarden,whileevenatthisdistance,thefitfulsoundofmusic reachedourears.Itwasindeedasweetandpeacefulscene.
"ThatisSisterCeciliapracticinginthechurch!Wehavethebestpairoforgansinallthe country,"saidFatherAustin,withsimplepride;"thereisnothingliketheminallLondon."
Wenowputourhorsestoabriskpace,andpassingthroughthegatewayIhavespokenof, weenteredasortofpavedoutercourt,wherethemendismounted,andwewomenfolk werealsotakenfromourhorses.Wewereledthroughaninnergatewhichopenedupona longpavedwalkleadingupthroughtheorchardandgardentothehouse.Iwasgrowing moreandmoreconfused;butIrememberwellallthesisterspausingtolookatus,aswas butnatural,poorthings,andmyfeelinganunreasoningangeragainstthemforsodoing.I havealsoavividimpressionofsomebrightflowersgrowingbythepath.Twoorthreeof thedark-robedgroupnowcameforwardtomeetus.
"Hereareournewdaughters,"saidthepriest,"andtiredenoughtheyare,poorthings.I fearthechildisnotwell."
"HolyVirgin!Itrustshehathnotbroughtthesicknessamongus,"saidoneofthenumber, shrinkingback.
"Idaresaysheisonlywearywithherjourney,"saidakindvoice,andoneoftheladies tookmyhandtoleadmeintothehouse."Comewithme,mychild,andwewillfindsome supperandabedforthesetiredlittlebones."
Iamconsciousofhearingthewords,buttheysoundedfarandstrange,astalkdoesinthe veryearlymorning,whenoneishalf-asleep.Iheardalsoanexclamationofsurpriseand
pity,andthenmysensesfailedme.ThenextIknew,Ifoundmyselfbeingundressedand putintobed,whilemyteethchatteredandeverylimbwasshakingundertheinfluenceof astrongague.
Fromthattime,forseveralweeks,myrecollectionsaremostlyablank.Iremember beggingforwater,water,andloathingtheapple-teaandgrueltheybroughtmeinstead.I rememberseeingpeopleaboutmeandhearingvoices,butitisalldimanddreamlike.At last,oneday,IwokeandsawFatherAustinstandingbymybed,withaladysoexactlylike him,thatiftheyhadchangedclothesnoonewouldhaveknownwhichwaswhich.
"Water!"Igasped.Itwasalwaysmyfirstwordonwaking.
"DoyouthinkImightgiveheralittle?"askedthelady."Shedoescraveitso,poorlittle thing."
"Yes,giveherwhatshewants;itwillmakenodifference,"saidthepriest,sadly.
Hewentaway,andtheladybroughtmeasmallcupofcool,freshwater.Idrainedevery dropandbeggedformore.
"Youshallhavemorebyandby,ifthisdoesnothurtyou,"saidthelady."Beagoodchild."
Idroppedagainintoadoze.WhenIwaked,Iwasalone,andthejug,fromwhichmynurse hadpouredthewater,stoodonalittletablenearby.Anovermasteringdesiretook possessionofme.Icreptoutofbed,and,steadyingmyselfbythewall,Ireachedthejug, andthoughIcouldhardlyliftitsoastogetatitscontents,Idrainedeverydrop.There musthavebeennearlyaquart.Thengettingbackintobed,Ifellasleepandsleptsoundly IwokefromadreamofmyhomebeforeIwenttoPeckhamHall,andfoundthatitwas darkandtheladyIhadseenbeforewasstandingbymewithalightinherhand.Shebent downandputherhandonmyforehead.
"Thesaintsbepraised,hereisablessedchange,"saidshe."Thefeveriswhollygone,and yourskiniscoolandmoist.Doyoufeelbetter?"
Imadeamotionofassent.Nowthatthefeverhadleftme,Iwasasweakasaninfant.
"Well,well.Perhapsthewaterdidyougood,afterall.Doyouwantmore?"
Inodded.Shetookupthejug,andseemedsurprisedtofinditempty,butaskedno questions,andgaveittoanattendantoutside,whopresentlyreturned,andIhadanother delightfuldrink,butIwasnotsothirstyasbefore.
"Doyouthinkyoucouldeatsomething,mychild?"askedmynewfriend.
Iassentedeagerly,forIhadbeguntofeeldecidedlyhungry.Sheagaingavesomeorders tothepersonoutside,who,byandby,broughtIknownotwhatdelicatepreparationof milk.Itookallthatwasgivenme,andwouldgladlyhavehadmore.
Fromthathourmyrecoverywasrapid,andIwassoonabletowalkabouttheroom,which wasalargeonewithseveralbeds,andwas,indeed,theinfirmaryforthepupils.ThenI wasallowedtowalkinthegallery,andso,bydegrees,Itookmyplaceinthefamily,and begantounderstandsomewhatofitsconstitutionandpolitics.
Dartfordnunnerywasaplaceofnolittleconsequenceinmytime,havingsometwenty professednunsbesidestheprioressandotherneedfulofficers,suchassacristan,mother assistantandmistressofnovices.Itwasawealthyfoundation,owning,besidesitsfair
homedomain,otherwidefieldsandorchardswhichbroughtinagoodrevenue.Most,if notallofthesisterswereladiesoffamilyandbreeding.
Thehousehadagoodreputationforsanctity,andcertainlytherewerenoscandalsinmy time,oratleastsoIthink,andIwasalwayssufficientlysharp-sighted.
WhenIwasabletowalkaboutandseemynewhome,whichwasnottillcoldweather,I hadtoconfessthatitwasafairone.Thegardenwasverylargeandcontainedmanyfine fruittrees,apples,plums,andcherries,besidesgreatgrapevinesandapricots,trainedin curiousfashionagainstthesouthwall.
Thehousehadbeenfoundedin1371,anditwassaid,thoughIdoubtit,thatapartofthe firstfabricwasstillstandinginmytime.Anyhowsomeofthebuildingwasveryold,andit hadbeenaddedtoasconveniencedictated,tilltherewasnoregularitytoit;yetthe materialbeingthesamethroughout,andthewallsmuchovergrownwithivy,there subsistedacertainharmonyinthepartswhichwaspleasingtotheeye.
Thechurchwasafineoneandcontainedsomevaluablerelics,suchasMaryMagdalene's girdle—shemusthavehadagoodmanygirdlesinhertime—abottlecontainingsome smokefromtheVirgin'sfire,andaglassofSt.Anne'stears,*withotherswhichIdon't nowremember,allinclosedinrichreliquariesandboxes,orhighlyornamentedshrines. Theywereexposedinthechurchonfeastdaysfortheadorationofthefaithful.
* All these relics are authentic, and may be found in Leighton's list contained in his letters
Butthefaithfulwerenotsomuchdisposedtoadoreasintimespast.Theleavenof incredulitywasspreadingamongthepoor,andthenewLearning,asitwascalled,among therich.Itwasunderstoodthatthekinghimselfhadhisdoubtsaboutsuchmatters;he wasatdrawndaggerswiththepopeabouthisdivorce;thegreatcardinalwasindisgrace andlikelytoloseallhispreferments,andnobodyknewwhatwaslikelytocomenext.
Butweyoungones,shutinbythegraystonewalls,werehappilyunconsciousofthe stormsthatragedwithout.Childrenareeasilyreconciledtoanychangethatisnotgreatly fortheworse,andIsoonbecameasmuchathomeasifIhadalwayslivedhere.Imust needssaythateveryonewaskindtome,especiallysowhenIwasrecovering.
Iusedtohaveterriblefitsofhomesickness,whichwerenotlessenedbytheangerwhich stilldweltinmyheartagainstmyuncle.Theseusuallyendedinafitofcryingandthatina chill,soitisnowonderthatMotherJoanna(thatwasthenameoftheMistressofthe Novices)hadadreadofthem.So,atthelast,shetooktosettingmetasksandwork,and findingthatIhadatalentformusic,sheputSisterCicelyupongivingmelessonsuponthe luteandinsinging,whichlessonshavesincebeenofgreatusetome.
Atmyfirstrecoveryfrommysickness,asIhavesaid,mymindwasalmostablank;butby andbymymemorycamebackandIbegantorecollectandcomparethings,andtoask questions.MotherJoannalikedmeaboutherwhenshewasbusy.Hereyesightwasnotas goodasithadbeen,andshefounditconvenienttohavemethreadherneedleswhenshe wassewing,anddootherlittleofficesforher.Oneday,shewaspreparingsomeworkfor thechildren(forwehadaday-schoolinalittlehousenearthegate,wherethegirlsfrom thevillagelearnedtosewandspinandtosaytheirprayers);oneday,Isay,whenwe werethusengaged,Iventuredtoask:
"Dearmother,didmyunclecometoseemewhenIwassick?"
"No,child,youruncleisgoneabroad,asIunderstand,toHolland,aboutsomemattersof business—butyourauntsenttoinquireforyoutwice."
"Whocame?"Iinquired.
"HowdoIknow,child!Youasktoomanyquestions.Itwasanelderlyservingmanwitha scaronhisface."
"JosephSaunders,"Isaid."Doyouknowifmyauntandcousinswerewell?"
"Yes,theyareallwell.IaskedbecauseIthoughtyouwouldliketoknow."
"Dearmother,youareverykind."
"Well,Imeantobekind,andsoIamgoingtotalkplainlytoyou,child.Youmustgiveup allnotionofgoingbacktoyouruncle'shouse,forthatwillneverbe.MyLadyPeckhamhas givenyoutothishouse—shehavingabsolutecontrolofyousinceSirEdward'sdeath—" "IsSirEdwarddead?"Iasked,indismay.
"Yes,hediedinScotland.There,don'tcry,mydear;Ithoughtyouknewit,orIwouldnot havetoldyousosuddenly.Iknowitisnaturalforyoutogrieveforhim,butwemustcurb evennaturalaffectionswhentheystandinthewayofourduty."
ButIcouldnothelpcrying.SirEdwardhadbeenuniformlykindtome,andIlovedhim dearly.Thenewsofhisdeathwasadreadfulshock,andtheendofitwas,thatIhad anotheragueandwassickforseveraldays.
WhenIgotabletobeaboutagain,Iwassentfortotheprioress'sparlor.Ihadhitherto seenthislady,onlyatanawfuldistance,and,sofarasIknow,shehadneverspokento me.Shewasaverygreatladybeingsomeway,Iknownothow,akintoBishopGardner
Bytheruleofourconstitution,weweretoelectaprioresseverythreeyears,butthere wasnothingtohinderthesamepersonfrombeingelectedagainandagain,andMother PaulinawassuchaQueenLogthatIimaginenobodycaredtogetridofher.Shewasan indolent,easy-goingbody,caring,Idothink,moreforherowneaseandcomfortthanany thingelse,andverylittletroubledastohowmatterswentinthehouse,solongasthey didnotcomeinherway.Likemanysuchpersons,however,shenowandthentookafitof activityandauthority,whenshewouldgoaboutthehouseinterferingineverybody's businesswhethersheknewanythingaboutthematterinhandornot,givingcontradictory ordersandsettingthingsgenerallyatsixesandsevens.Thishappilyaccomplished,and herconsciencedischarged,shewouldrelapseintohergreatchairandherindolenceagain, andleavematterstosettleastheymight.
Oneofthesefitswasonherjustnow.Shehadbeenoutinthegardeninthemorning, scoldingthegardeneraboutthemanagementofthewinterceleryandthetrainingofthe apricots,ofwhichsheknewasmuchasshedidofHebrew.Isawhertwoattendantsisters fairlylaughingbehindherback.
Asforthegardener,hewasasoberoldScotsman,whohadcometothiscountryinthe trainofsomeofthebanishedScotslords,andlikedittoowelltoleaveit.Heunderstood hisbusiness,andhismistress,too.Hewouldstand,capinhand,inanattitudeofthe deepesthumility,listeningtohislady'slecturesandthrowinginawordnowandthen,as— "Nadoot,madam!Ye'llhaetherighto't.Iwouldsayso!"
Thenhewouldgoonhisowncourse,preciselyasifshehadnotspoken,andshe,having saidhersaywithoutcontradiction,wouldimagineshehadhadherownway.(Itisnota badwaytodealwithunreasonablepeople,asIhavelearnedbyexperience.)
Ifoundtheladysittinginhergreatchair,besideatableonwhichwasacrucifixofgold andivory,avaseforholywater,andaboxwhichIsupposedtocontainsomeholyrelic.A handsomerugwasbeforeherchair,andsherestedherfeetonanembroideredhassock. Accordingtothecustomofthehouse,twosistersstoodbehindher.Theyoungersisters tookthisdutyinrotation.
"So!"saidshe,whenIhadmademyobeisance."Youarethechildwhowassenthitherby myLadyPeckham."
Thisinaseveretone,asifIhadbeenmuchtoblameforbeingsuchachild.
"Andwhydidnotyoucomehitheratonce,insteadofstoppingfourmonthsinLondon,and puttingmetoallthattroubleoflookingoverpoorSisterBenedict'sthings,andfindingmy lady'sletter."
TowhichIcouldonlyanswerthatIdidnotknow.Asifalittlechitlikemyselfwouldhave anyhandinherowndisposal.
"Well,nowyouarehere,youmustbecontent.MotherJoannasaysyouarehomesickand makeyourselfillbycrying.Thatmustbestopped.IfIhearanymoreofit,Iwilltrywhat virtueisinabirchtwigtocureague.Iamafraidyouareanaughtychild,oryouruncle wouldnothavebeeninsuchahurrytogetridofyou."
Howeasyitisforidleorcarelesshandstogallasorewound.Herwordswerelikeastabto me,butIsetmyteethandclenchedmyhandsandmadenosign.
"Butnowyoumustunderstand,onceforall,thatIwillhavenomorecryingor homesickness!"pursuedthelady,whowaslikeastonethatonceseta-goingdownhill rollsonbyitsownweight.
"Youareinagoodhomeandaholyhouse,whereyoumaygrowupwithoutdangerof beinginfectedbytheheresies,which,aswehear,aresorifeinLondon.Yourgood mistress,LadyPeckham,willgiveyouadowrywhenyouareprofessed,andsometime youmaycometobeprioress,andsitinthischair;whoknows?"concludedthelady, relapsingintoaneasytalkingtone,having,Isuppose,sustainedherdignityaslongaswas convenient."Sonowbeagoodchild,andhereisapieceofcandiedangelicaforyou!"she added,takingthecoverfromwhatIhadtakenforareliquary,"andpraydon'tletushave anymorecrying."
Itookthesweetmeatwithacourtesy,andafterwardgaveittooneofthelaysisters, havingnogreatfondnessforsuchthings.
"AndhowdidyouleavemyLadyPeckham?"pursuedtheprioress;then,withoutwaiting forananswer:"Weweregirlsatschooltogether,thoughshewasolderthanI—oh,yes, quiteagooddealolder,Ishouldsay.Letmesee,shemarriedtwice,Ithink.Whatwasher firsthusband'sname?"
"WalterCorbet,madam?"Imanagedtosay
Iwasfeelingveryqueerbythattime,beingweakandunusedtostandingsolong.The prioresswaspursuinghercatechism,whenIsawthetwoattendantsisterslookateach other,andthenoneofthembentdownasiftowhisperinthelady'sear.Thatwasthelast
IdidseeorknowtillIwoke,asitwere,tofindmyselfonthefloor,withoneofthesisters bathingmyfacewithsomestrongwaters,andtheprioressfussingabout,wringingher handsandcallingonallthesaintsinthecalendar.Ifeltverydreamyandstrange,and,I fancy,lostmyselfagain,forthenextthingIheardwasMotherJoanna'svoice,speakingin thetonewhichshowedshewasdispleased.
"Youkeptherstandingtoolong,thatisall.Nobodyrecoveringfromafevershouldbekept standing."
"Youdon'tthinkshewilldie,doyou,mother?"askedoneofthesisters,Idobelieveoutof sheermischief.
"HolyVirgin!Youdon'tthinkso?"criedtheprioress."HolySaintJoseph!WhatshallIdo? SendforFatherAustin,somebody,quick!BringhertheholyMagdalene'sgirdle,orthe thumbofSaintBartholomew.HolyMagdalene!Iwillvow—"
"Reverendmother,pleasedobequiet!"interposedMotherJoanna,withverylittle ceremony."Thechildisnotdying,ifshebenotscaredtodeathbyallthisnoise.Sister Priscilla,goandseethatherbedisready.Come,Loveday,"inhercrisp,kindlytone, "rouseyourself,child.Why,thatiswell!"AsIopenedmyeyes—"There,don'ttrytositup, buttakewhatthesisterisgivingyou,andwewillsoonhaveyoubetter.Openthe casementamoment,SisterAnne;theroomisstifling."
"Really,sister!"saidtheprioress,inaninjuredtone,"Ithinkyoushouldrememberthat youareinmyapartment,beforeyoutakesuchaliberty.Thechildwilldowellenough,I daresay.Itismorethanhalfpretensetogetherselfnoticed,andIbelievemightbe whippedoutofher,"shepursued,forhavingalittlegottenoverherfright,shewas beginningtobeangrywiththecauseofit.
MotherJoannatreatedthereproofandthesuggestionwithequallylittleceremony,and gatheringmeupinherstrongarms,sheboremeofftomybedinthedormitory,andwent tobringmesomesoup.Iwasquitemyselfinafewhours,andfromthattime,myhealth improvedsothatIwassoonaswellasIhadeverbeeninmylife.Everyonewaskindto me,asIhavesaid.Iwenttoworkwithgreatzealatmylessonsinmusicandneedlework, bothofwhichIloved.
Oneday,IwasholdingsomesilkforSisterDenys.Shewasthenovicewhohadentered thehouseatthesametimeasmyself,andhadtakenthewhiteveilwhileIwasill.Shewas veryyoung,and,butforherunvaryingexpressionoflistlesssadness,wouldhavebeen verypretty;butshemovedmorelikeamachine,thanalivingcreature,neverspokeifshe couldhelpit,andfadeddaybyday,likeawaningmoon.ImorethanoncesawMother Joannashakeherheadsadlyasshelookedatthepoorthing.
Well,asIsaid,Iwasholdingsomethreadforher,whensomehow,Idon'tknowhowit happened,ImadeuseofaLatinphrase.Isawthatshestarted,andhereyesbrightened.
"DoyouknowLatin,child—Imean,soastounderstandit?"
IwasasmuchsurprisedasiftheimageofMaryMagdaleneinthechapelhadspokento me,butImadehastetoanswer
"Yes,SisterDenys;Ihavelearneditfortwoorthreeyears.AndIhavereadthroughthe 'OrbisSensualiumPietus;'*andsomeofCorneliusNepos,andIhavereadapartofSt. MatthewhisGospelintheVulgate—"(soIhad,withmyuncle)."IwishIhadlessons
here,"Iadded,regretfully."IhaveforgotsomuchsinceIhadthefever,andIlovemy Latin,becauseIusedtoreaditwithWalter."
* I am not sure that I have not antedated this wonderful schoolbook.
"WhowasWalter yourbrother?"
"No,sister;mycousin,"andthen,inanswertoherquestions,Ibegan,nothingloth,totell herofmyhomeinSomersetshire.
Presentlyshedroppedthesilk,andIsawshewasweepingbitterly.
"Nevermind,littlemaiden—youhavedonemegood,"shesaidatlast,asIstoodbyher side,dismayedathersorrow,yetfeelingbyinstinctthatitwasbettertoletherhaveher cryout,withoutcallinganyone.Shemadeagreatefforttocheckhersobs,andpresently, kissingme,sheadded:
"IknowLatin,andIwillteachyou,ifthemotheriswilling."
"Iamsureshewillbewilling!"Ianswered."ShesaidherselfitwasapityIshouldlose whatIhadgained."
Andthemotherpassingatthemoment,Ipreferredmypetitiontoher.Ithinkshewas unfeignedlypleasedtoseepoorSisterDenysinterestedinanything.Shedidnotgo throughtheusualformofreferringtotheprioress,asindeed,shewasnotobligedtodo, shehavingthewholecareofthenovicesandpupils,butbademefetchmybooks,which hadbeensentmefromLondon,andtakealessononthespot.
Forawhiletheselessonswentonveryprosperously.SisterDenyswasagoodLatin scholar,andfindingthatIwasdiligent,reasonablyquick,andlikedlearningforitsown sake,shebeganalsototeachmeFrench.AllthatwinterIstudiedhard,andbetween SisterDenys,SisterCicely,withhermusiclessons,andSisterTheresa,withher embroidery,Ihadmyhandsfull.Ididnomoreworkthanwasgoodforme,andhadplenty ofplayandsleep,and,onthewhole,Iwasverywellcontentwithmynewhome,thoughI used,nowandthen,tohavefitsoflongingaftermyAuntJoyceandmycousins.
Onedayinspring,Iwascalledtotheparlor.SupposingIwaswantedtodosomeerrand—I waserrand-boy,orrathergirl,fortheestablishment Iwentcarelesslyenough.The prioresswasthere,withherattendantsistersandmotherassistant,andasIcameforward tothewidegratingthatdividedtheroom,Ifoundmyselffacetofacewithmyauntand cousins.
Whatameetingitwas!AuntJoycehadgrownolderandlookedcareworn,andthetwins wereaheadtaller,butthatwasallthechange.Themotherassistantwhisperedtothe prioress,whoassented.
"There,youmaygooutsidethegratingandspeaktoyourauntandcousins,child!"said she."Youarenotprofessed;soitcandonoharm."
InanotherminuteIwasinmyaunt'sarms,smotheredwithkisses,andturningfromone totheotherinaverybewildermentofjoy.Icouldnothelphopingforamomentthatthey hadcometotakemeaway,butmyhopeswerequicklydashed.
Theyhadcomeonanothererrand,namely,tobidmealongfarewell.Myunclehadbeen backandforthbetweenLondonandAntwerpseveraltimes,butnowhehadremovedhis businesswhollytothatcity,anddeterminedtosettletherefortherestofhislife.There wasagreatdealofcommercebetweenAntwerpandLondonatthattime,andmorethings werebroughtoverinthewayofmerchandisethanpassedthecustoms.
Againthemotherassistantwhisperedtheprioress,andthenaddressedherselftome.
"Loveday,youmaytakeyourauntandcousinstoseethechurchandthegardenand orchard.Iamsuretheywilltakenoundueadvantage."
"Surelynot,reverendmother!"saidmyaunt,withadeepreverence."Itwillbeagreat pleasuretometoseemyniece'sfuturehome.JosephSaundersiswaitingwithoutwitha presentforthehouse,andIhaveventuredtotakethelibertyofbringingdownourcat,if theladiesarefondofsuchpets.Heisafinecreatureandsomewhatuncommon."
"Isawinamomentthatmotherassistantwasgratified.Shelovedpetanimals,and indeed,thatwasabouttheonlyindulgencesheeverpermittedherself.
"Acat—oh,yes.Motherassistantwillbedelighted,Iamsure!"saidtheprioress,rather peevishly."ShelovesacatbetterthanaChristian,anyday."
"AndmynephewhathsentacaseortwoofforeignsweetmeatsandsomeBasle gingerbread,"*continuedmyaunt,withoutnoticingthisnotverydignifiedoutburst—"with someloavesofsugarandapacketofspices.Hehopesmyladyprioresswillcondescendto acceptthemasatokenofgratitudeforherkindnesstohisniece."
"Certainly—certainly,andwiththanks!"answeredtheprioress,withalacrity."Tellhim,he shallhaveourprayersforhisjourney.Iamsurehecannotbeinclinedtoheresyasthey say,orhewouldneversendsuchnicepresentstoourhouse."
* Basle then, as now, was famous for its gingerbread, which is, in fact, a rich and spicy kind of iced plum cake made to keep long.
"There,gochild,andshowyourcousinsthegardenandtheorchard!"saidthemother assistant,interposingrathermorehastilythanwasconsistentwithgooddiscipline."Iwill comepresentlyandmakeacquaintancewiththiswonderfulcat."
Iwasnotslowinavailingmyselfofthepermission.
AsIstoppedtoshutthedoor,whereofthelockwasoutoforder,Iheardtheprioresssay, inanaggrievedtone,"Really,sister—"andIknewshewas,asusual,assertingherdignity, anddefendingherauthority,whichtookagooddealofdefending,certainly.
Idrewmyauntandcousinsouttothegate,andwequicklyreleasedTurkfromhis imprisonment.Hewashugelyindignantatfirst.Butfindinghimselfamongfriends,and beinginvitedtopartakeofrefreshment,heverysoonsmoothedhisruffledplumes,and beforelongwasentirelyathome.
"Wecouldnotwelltakehimwithus,andmyunclethoughtyouwouldliketohavehim," saidmyaunt."Butletuslookatyou,child.Howwellyoulook,andhowyouhavegrown. Youarehappyhere,areyounot?"
"Yes,aunt!"saidI,indifferently."IfIcannotbewithyouandmycousins,Imightaswell behere.Theyareallkind.Butoh,aunt,whydoesmyunclegoawaysofar—andtoa
strangecountry,too?"
"Icannottellyou,dearchild.Hehasgoodreasons,orhewouldneverdoso.Youmay guessitishard,inmyoldage,tobetransplantedtoaforeignsoil,andhavetolearnnew waysandnewtongues;butGodknowsbest.Hiswillbedone."
"ThereareagreatmanyEnglishinAntwerp,myfathersays!"observedKatherine.
"Yes,thatistrue,andsomethatweknow atleast,thatyourfatherknows."
"Andmyfathersayshishouseisafineone—evenfinerthanoursinLondon,"saidAvice; "butIknowIshallneverlikeitaswell."
"Buttellmeallaboutit!"saidI."IsSambogoing?"
"Yes,andAnnethelaunder,andJosephSaunders,butnooneelse.MasterDavis,thesilk mercer,hathhiredourhouse,andhelovesflowersaswellasmyfather,sothegardenwill becaredfor."
"IshouldnotthinkJosephwouldgo—heissoold!"
"Hehathbeentherewithmynephewandknowsthewaysandthelanguage;sohewillbe ahelpingettingsettled!"saidAuntJoyce,whoseemedtofeelthechangefarmorethan thegirls,aswasindeednatural."But,afterall,lifeisshort,andParadiseisasnearto AntwerpastoLondon.Thatisthegreatcomfort.ButLoveday,nowthatwearealone together,Imustgiveyouyouruncle'schargeandhisletter."
Theletterwasshort,butearnest.MyunclebadememakemyselfcontentedsofarasI could,buthechargedmetorememberthatIwasnottobeprofessedtillIwastwentyone.
"Shouldanythinghappentomakeyouneedahome—asisnot impossible,ifIreadthesignsofthetimesaright,"sotheletter proceeded,"doyougotomyoldfriend,MasterDavis,thesilkmercer, whowillalwaysknowwhereIam,andhowtosendtome.Hiswifeisa goodwoman,andtheywillgladlygiveyouahome."
Myuncleconcludedbyoncemoreaskingmyforgivenessforhishasty action,andmostsolemnlygavemehisblessing.
Myauntbademegiveherbacktheletter,andIdidso,howeverreluctantly,knowingthat itwouldnotbewelltohaveitfoundwithme.Inaconvent,nothingisone'sown,andone isallthetimewatched.
Whenwehadseenthegardenandorchard,thechurchandsuchotherpartsofthedomain asitwaspropertoshowtostrangers,wewerecalledintotherefectorywhereanelegant littlerepastwasprovided,ofwhichIwasallowedtopartakewiththem.Thetimefor partingcamealltoosoon,fortheridetotownwasnotashortone,andthoughthedays werenowatthelongest,thepartycouldnotmorethanreachhomebeforedark.
Iwillnotdwellonthatsorrowfulparting.MotherJoannaledmeaway,andwhenIhad weptawhile,shebegantoquietme.Shesaidwhatwastrue,thatIhadbeengreatly indulgedinbeingallowedsuchfreeintercoursewithmyfriends,andthatImustshowmy gratitudebystrivingtorestrainmygriefsoasnottomakemyselfill.Shesaidagooddeal,
too,inhersweet,gentleway,ofsubmittingourwillstothewillofHeaven,becausethat willissuretobebestforus,sinceourheavenlyFatherseeingtheendfromthebeginning, andhaving,asitwere,ourwholelivesspreadoutbeforehim,canjudgefarbetterthanwe can.(Ibegantoobserve,aboutthistime,thatwhiletheprioressandtheotherladies invokedsaintsbythegrossonalloccasions,themotherassistantandMotherJoanna rarelyorneverdidso.)Thedearmotherunderstoodmewell.Isawthereasonablenessof whatsheurged,andmadeagreatefforttocontrolmyfeelings,andthoughmypillowwas wetwithtearsforthat,andmorethanonenightafterward,Itookcarethatmygrief shouldbetroublesometonoone.
Itwasnotlongaftermyaunt'svisit,thatanotherfriendwastaken,whoprovedagreat losstome,andthatwasSisterDenys.Shehadgraduallyimprovedinhealth,andIbelieve theinterestshetookinmylessonswasagreatbenefittoher;butIdonotthinkshe becameawhitmorereconciledtoherwayoflife.Sheusedtoremindmeofavixen* Walterhad,which,thoughtameenoughtoknowandloveherkeeper,andeatoutofhis hand,didyetnevergiveuptryingtoescapefromhercaptivity.IrememberoldRalph sayingthatifthecreaturedidoncereallygiveupthehopeofgettingaway,shewoulddie.
* All my readers may not know that Vixen is the proper name of a female fox
SisterDenyswaslikethatvixen,Ithink—thehopeofescapekeptheralive.Aboutthis time,shebegangreatlytofrequentalittlechapelofourpatronsaintbuiltinourorchard, andmorethanonceIhadseenhertalkingwithanoldman,agreat,awkward,shambling creaturewithoneeye,whomoldAdam,ourScotchgardener,hadhiredtoassisthim.I wonderedwhatshewantedwithhim,butIhadlearnedbythattimeenoughofconvent politicstoseemuchandsaynothing.
Onefinemorning,SisterDenysandtheoldlamegardenerwerebothmissing,andwhenI venturedtoaskwhathadbecomeofthem,IwastoldthatSisterDenyshadgoneto anotherhousetobeprofessed,andthatthegardenerhadbeendismissed.YoungasIwas, akindofinklingofthetruthcameoverme,butIdidnotknowthewholeofittilllongand longafterthattime.Ofcourse,therewasnotawordoftruthinthestory,butalmostany thingisallowabletosavescandal,asthephraseis,andaprettybigfibtoldintheinterest ofthechurchis,atworst,avenialsin.
CHAPTER V. THE THUNDER STRIKES.
IDOnotproposetogoveryminutelyintothedetailsofmyconventlife.Iremainedat Dartfordforseveralyears,fairlycontentforthemostpart,thoughInowandthenhada greatdesireaftermorefreedom.Iweariedofthetrimgrassplots,theorderlygarden,and theorchardshutinfromtherestoftheworldbyhighwalls,andlongedtofindmyselfin theopenfields,withnovisibleboundtomyfootsteps.Irememberedmyuncle'shousein London,andwishedmyselfbackthere,orwiththefamilyintheirnewhome.Foratime aftertheirremovaltoAntwerp,Iheardfromthefamily.Atleasttwiceayear,apacket camewithlettersforme,andsomevaluablepresentforthehouse,ofspice,orcomfits,or wonderfullace,suchastheyknowhowtomakeinthoseparts.Butafteratime,these packetsstoppedcoming,andformanyayear,Ihadnonewsofthesedearonesatall.
IhadonevisitfrommyLadyPeckhamduringthistime.ShecametoLondononsome businessaboutherhusband'sestate,whichcouldnotbeeasilysettled,astherewasno absoluteproofthatRandallwasdead.ThenextheirwasadistantrelationofSirEdward's, wholivednearLondon.Butthisgentlemanwasaneasy-goingsortofpersonIfancy,or perhapshedidnotcareaboutburyinghimselfinthatwildpartofSomersetshire.Anyhow, heagreed,inconsiderationofacertainshareoftherentsoftheestate,toletLady Peckhamliveinthehouseaslongasshepleased.ShehadbroughtSirEdwardagood fortune,whichwassettledwhollyonherself,soshewasverywell-to-do.
Itseemedtomethatshehadalteredverylittle.Shehadacceptedthemantleandveil, andmadethevowofperpetualwidowhood,andsomightbelookeduponas,insomesort, areligiouspersonasthephrasewentinthosetimes.Shestaidwithusamonthormore, andwas,orprofessedtobe,verymuchedified,thoughIthinkshewasratherscandalized attheeasinessofourrule,whichwas,indeed,verydifferentfromthedisciplinewhich usedtobeenforcedatthehousetowhichIhadbeenfirstdestinedatBridgewater.Ido notmeantosaythattherewasanydisorder—farfromit:butthingswentonina comfortable,business-likefashion.Thereweresomanyservicestobegonethrough,and theyweregonethroughwithallduegravityanddecorum.Wehadbeautifulsinging,which peoplecamefromfarandneartohear.Wekeptourfastdaysstrictlyenoughasregards theeatingoffleshmeat,butourownstewsgaveusabundanceoffish,andourorchard andgardensuppliedfruitandvegetables,sothatwecertainlydidnotsufferfromour abstinence.
However,Isupposemyladymusthavebeenwellpleasedonthewhole,forshetriedvery hardtomakemeconsenttotakethewhiteornovice'sveil.This,however,Iwouldnotdo, pleadingmysolemnpromisetoSirEdwardandmyuncleGabriel.Myladydeclaredthat suchpromisesmadebyachildamountedtonothing,andappealedtoFatherAustin.I don'tknowwhathesaidtoher,butitmusthavebeensomethingconclusive,sinceshe saidnomoretomeonthematter.
Iventuredtoaskaboutmyoldfriendandplaymate,WalterCorbet.Shetoldmethathe wasstillwithSirJohnLambert,atBridgewater,assistinginthecareoftheparish,butthat hehadsomeprospectofanewfieldofhisowninDevon,notfarfrommyoldhome.
"'Tisawildandlonelyplace,andalmostasavagepeople,soIamtold,"saidmylady."But Walterseemstothinktheprospectofburyinghimselfamongthemadelightfulone.Oh,if hewouldbuthavetakenthevowsatGlastonbury,hemightcometobeabbotintime, insteadoflivinganddyinginthegraywallsofAshcombevicarage."
Butthosesamegraywallsarestillwholeandwarm,whileGlastonburyisbutastately ruin,wastedbyalltheairsthatblowfreelythroughitsdesertedhalls.This,bytheway
Myladyleftus,asIhavesaid,attheendofamonth,toreturntoPeckhamHall,thoughat herfirstcomingshehadtalkedofspendingtheremainderofherdaysamongus.ButI thinkshewaswise.Suchalifeasourswouldnothavesuitedheratall.Shelikedtorule wherevershewas,andhadbeenusedmanyyearstoalmostabsoluteauthority,forSir Edwardrarelyinterferedinanymatterwhichconcernedthehousehold;andshewastoo oldandtoosettolearnnewways.FromsomethingIoverheard,Idon'tthinkmother assistantfavoredthenotion.Ihaveheardhersaymyselfthatanunoughttobeprofessed beforesheistwenty.Ineversawmyladyagain,thoughIheardfromhernowandthen.
Motherassistantwasnowtherealheadandrulerofthehouse,fortheprioressgrewmore andmoreindolenteveryday.Sheexcusedherselfonthescoreofherhealth,thoughI cannotbutthinkshewouldhavebeenwellenoughifshehadtakenmoreexerciseand eatenfewersweetmeats.Shecouldnothavehadabetterdeputythanthemother assistant,whowasanexcellentwomanandwellfittedtoruleahousehold.Ineversawa womanofamoreeventemper,andshehadthatpreciousfacultyofmakingeveryonedo herbestinherownplace.
MotherJoannacontinuedmistressofthenovices,thoughhertaskwasalightone,forwe hadveryfewaccessions;ourelectionswereregularlygonethroughwith,buttheywereno morethanaform,sincetheverysameofficerswereelectedoverandover,savewhen someonedied.SisterSacristine,whowasonlyamiddle-agedwomanwhenIcameto Dartford,wasgrowingoldandfeeble.Twonewbursarshadbeenelected.Thetreeshad grownolder,andtheoldScotchgardenermoreopinionated.SisterCicely'shandsgrewtoo stifftomanagetheorganattimes,andIoftentookherplace,andacquittedmyselftothe satisfactionofmyhearers;andtheseareaboutallthechangesIremember,tillthegreat changeofall.
Ihavesaidourliveswereveryquiet,andsotheywere.Butwhenastormisraging,itis hardtokeepallknowledgeorsignofitoutofthehouse.Weheard,nowandagain, rumorsofthechangesthatweregoingonoutside.IrememberwellwhenSisterEmma, thestewardess,heardfromDameHurst,whonowandthenbroughtoystersandother sea-fishforsale,thatagreatEnglishBiblehadbeenchainedtoapillarintheparish churchatDartford;whereanyonewholistedcouldgoandhearitread,orreaditfor themselves,iftheypleased.SisterEmmatoldusthiswonderfulpieceofnewswhenwe wereallassembledunderthegrape-arbor,shellingofpeasforourfastdaymess.
Itwasreceivedwithadegreeofhorrorandamazement,whichseemsstrangeasI rememberit,nowthateveryhouseholderwhocanafforditmayhaveaBibleofhisown.
"Whatanindignity!"exclaimedSisterAgnes."TothinkthattheHolyScriptureshouldbe chainedtoapillar,likeamaninapillory,tobethumbedoverbyeveryvillageclownor dirtyfishermanwhocanmakeshifttospelloutafewwords."
"YouwouldnotcompareapillarinthehouseofourLordtoapillory,wouldyou,sister?" askedmotherassistant,withthatgentlesmileofridiculewhichI,forone,dreadedmore thantherod,whenIhadbeennaughty.
"Why,no,reverendmother,notexactly,"answeredSisterAgnes,insomeconfusion.
"Anyhow,itisnotthetrueWordofGod,butonlytheheretics'translation,"saidSister Margaret,sharply."Soitdoesnotmatterwhatisdonewithit."
"Idon'tknowaboutthat,"remarkedanothersister,rathertimidly."Isupposeitcouldnot beputinthechurcheseverywhere,withouttheconsentofthebishopsandtheother clergy;andtheywouldnotallowanhereticalandfalsetranslationinsuchaplace,surely
Onlyitisapitythepoorpeopleshouldbeallowedtoperiltheirsouls'salvationbyreading theScripturesinthevulgartongue."
Eventhen,Iremember,itstruckmeascurious,thatpeoples'salvationshouldbe endangeredbyreadingtheWordofGod,butIsaidnothing.
"Theywillneverputanysuchthinginmychurch—chainedorunchained—thatIknow," saidSisterSacristine,withgreatemphasis,andinherearnestnessemptyingthepeasin herlapamongthecodsinthebasket."Iwouldtearupthebookwithmyownhands, beforesuchthingsshouldbeallowedneartotheshrineoftheHolyMagdalene.Thankthe saints,wearenotsubjecteithertobishoporarchbishop,buttoourownvisitor,andIam verysurehewouldneverordersuchathing."
"Inthatcase,itishardlyworthwhiletowasteone'sbreathdiscussingthematter,"said motherassistant."Loveday,youhadbetterpickupthepeasthatSisterSacristinehas scattered.Itisapitytheyshouldbewasted."
"Thereisnotellingwhatwillhappen—notelling,"saidaveryoldsister,whowaswarming herselfinthesun."Ihavestrangevisions—Ido.Isawlastnightthewallsofthefold pulleddown,andthesheepscatteredfarandwide.ButIhopeitwon'tcomeinmytime.I havelivedhereintheseverywallsalmosteightyyears,andIdon'twanttoliveanywhere else."
"No,thereisnotelling,andthereforewemaydismissthesubject,"saidmotherassistant. "WhentheycometoaskustochainaBibleinourchurch,itwillbetimeforustorefuseit. 'Eachday'stroubleissufficientforthesameselfeday.'"
Thestrikingofthebellwarnedusoftheendofrecreation,andsentusaboutourseveral tasks;butthemother'swordslingeredinmyears,andIfoundmyselfwonderingagain andagainwhereIhadheardthembefore.AtlastIremembered;Ihadreadtheminmy uncle'sgreatbook—MasterTyndale'sbookoftheNewTestament,asIafterwardknewitto be—ontheveryfirstdaythatIcametoLondon.
Well,thedayswenton,andthoughweheardrumorsofthisandthat—ofthedisgraceof poorQueenKatherine(whichIdomaintainwasaninfamousshame),andthemarriageof theKingwithAnneBoleyn,motherofourpresentgoodQueen—oftheburningofheretics hereandthere,andtheking'stakingchurchmattersmoreandmoreintohisownhands— though,asIsay,weheardrumorsofallthesethings,theydidnotgreatlydisturbour peace.Ourgraycirclingwallswerelikethemagiccircleoftheenchanter,andthough strangeandmalignshapeswereseeninveryactiveexerciseoutsideitsbounds,yetnone hadasyetbrokenthrough.Butourtimewastocome.
ItwasonapleasantdayintheendofSeptember,intheyearofgrace1538,thatthefirst blowfelluponus.
Bythesametokenwehad,onthatveryday,buriedoldTurkinthegardenundera beautifullaylocktree.Thepooroldcathadbeenverydecrepitforalongtime,havinglost mostofhisteeth,sothathehadtobefedwithhashedmeat,andbreadsoakedincream. OldAdamhadsaidmorethanoncethatthepoorthingwouldbebetterputoutofhispain, butIdon'tbelieveyoucouldhavehiredhimtodothedeed—no,notwithaDutchtuliproot.
Well,itwasonthatverydaythat,cominginfromtheorchardwithabasketofearly apples,IsawFatherAustinwalkingupthepavedpath,whichledfromhishousetothe church,withsuchaperturbedfaceasIneversawhimwearbefore.Hepassedthroughthe
church,andpresentlythewholefamilywerecalledtogetherinagreathallwhichjoined thechurch,andwascalled—Idon'tknowwhy—thechapter-room.Itwastheroomin whichourelectionswereheld,andwasseldomorneverusedonotheroccasions.Therewe were,oldandyoung,allstandingaccordingtoourdegree,andsomeofuslookingscared enough,forrumorfliesfast,andweallhadanideathatsomethingdreadfulwasgoingto happen.
Theprioresssatinhergreatchair,withherattendantsistersbehindher,andlookedabout withadazed,helplessexpression.Shehadgrownverystoutandunwieldy,andsomeofus thoughtshewasnotquiterightinhermind.Theeldersofthehousewereatherright hand,andnearbystoodFatherAustinandanotherpriest,withathin,clever,craftyface, whomweknewtobeBishopGardiner'schaplain,andapersonofgreatconsideration.I alwayshadadisliketothisman;chieflybecausetheshapeofhishead—veryflatbehind, andwithprominentanglesatthejaw-bones—remindedmeofaviper.Icouldnothelp thinkingatthatmomentthathewatchedtheprioressasavipermightwatchafatfrogon whichhehadadesign.
Whenwewereallsettled,FatherAustinraisedhishand,andspoke:"Mymothersand sisters,yourreverendprioresshascalledyoutogethertohearamostimportantmessage whichourvisitorhassentusbyhischaplain,FatherSimon,whowillnowdeliverthe same."
Withthathewassilent,andFatherSimonspoke.Icannotrememberhiswords,butthe gistofthematterwasthis:Thekinghadwhollybrokenoffwiththepope,and,byconsent oftheparliament,hadproclaimedhimselfsupremeheadoftheEnglishChurch.All bishops,headsofreligioushouses,andcertainotherofficerswererequiredtotakethe oathofsupremacy,asitwascalled,underseverepenalties—eventhatofdeath—aswas liketobethecasewiththeBishopofRochester,whowasnowinprisonandthreatened withthelossofhishead.(Hereallydidcometothescaffoldsoonafter.)Itwasprobable thatcommissionerswouldshortlybesenttoourhousetoadministerthisoath,andBishop Gardiner who,thoughnotourbishop,wasourregularvisitorbysomeecclesiastical arrangementwhichIneverunderstood—hadhimselftakenthisoath,andadvisedusto submittothesame,asanecessityofthetimes.
Iwaswatchingtheprioress'sfaceduringthisharangue,whichwasdeliveredinavery gentleandinsinuatingmanner.(Myeyesshouldhavebeenontheground,buttheyhave alwayshadanunluckytrickofwandering.)Isay,mineeyesshouldhavebeenonthe ground,buttheywerewatchingourmother'sfaceinstead,andIwassurprisedtoseethe changethatcameoverit,asthewordsandmeaningofthefather'saddresspenetrated herunderstanding.Usuallyhervisagehadaboutasmuchexpressionasaslack-bakedpie, andwasnearlythesamecolor.Bydegrees,assheunderstoodthematter,herdulleyes openedwide,andgrewbrightandclear,herlooseunder-lipwascompressed,andalittle colorcameintohercheeks.Whenthechaplainwassilent,shespoke,andwithsuchaclear voiceandsomuchdignityofmannerthatthesistersglancedateachotherinsurprise.
"Iamsomewhatslowofcomprehension,goodfather.Iprayyoubearwithme,ifmy questionsseemnottothepurpose.Whatisitthatthekinghathdeclaredhimself?"
Thechaplainoncemoreexplainedthatthekingnowcalledhimselfsupremeheadofthe church.
"Butthepope—ourHolyFatheratRome—issupremeheadofthechurchinall Christendom!"saidtheprioress."How,then,canthattitlebelongtoHisGrace,theKingof England?Therecannotbetwosupremeheads."
IsawthechaplaincastakeenglanceofsatiricalamusementatFatherAustinbeforehe proceededtoexplainoncemorethattheking,havingquarreledwiththepope,inthe matterofhiswife'sdivorceandsomeotherthings,utterlydeniedhimanyauthorityor jurisdictionovertherealmofEnglandoritsdependencies,andrequiredallpersonsto submittohim,asformerlytothepope.
"Butheisnotthehead,sowhatdifferencedoesitmakewhathecallshimself?"persisted theprioress."Andhowcanthebishop,whoishimselfsworntoobeythepopeinallthings, obeythekingwhenthekingisopposedtohim."
"Iamnotheretoexplainorjustifytheconductofyourvenerablevisitor,reverend mother!"saidthechaplain,ratherarrogantly."Butonlytoconveyyouhiscounselsand commands.Thefurthercontinuanceofthisholycommunity—nay,yourownlife—may dependonyourobedience.Youwouldnotliketobeputinprison,liketheBishopof Rochester!"
Knowingthemother'sloveofease,Isupposehethoughtthisaknock-downargument,but hewasmistaken.Onemayknowapersonverywell,andyetnotbeabletoforetellwhat thatpersonwilldoinanemergency.
"Ishouldnotlikeitatall!"saidtheprioress."Itwouldbeveryuncomfortabletolieupon strawandhavenothingbutbreadandwater,andcoldwateralwaysmakesmeill.ButIdo notseehowthatmakesanydifferenceaboutthepopebeingheadofthechurch,andifhe issupremehead,thenthekingcannotbe.Thatisallaboutit."
Withthatthechaplaintookonahighertone,andbegantoblusteralittle.Wouldshe,a merewoman,pretendtositinjudgmentnotonlyonabishopandhervisitor,butalsoon thekinghimself?Wasitnotherdutyasareligioustohavenomindofherown,butonly todoasshewastold?
"Youdidnotthinkso,reverendfather,whenthequestionwasofplacinganEnglishBiblein thechurchforthesisterstoreadwhentheypleased!"saidtheprioress."Thatwasthe king'swill,too,asIunderstand,andyetbothourvisitorandyourselfsaidIwasrightin refusing,becauseourswasnotaparishchurch.AndtheveryBiblethatwassentdownlies lockedupinthepressinthesacristy.Doesitnot,motherassistant?"
"Itwasthereatonetime,butIhavehaditremovedtoasaferplace!"answeredthe motherassistant,quietly.Isawthesistersexchangeglancesofamazementfromunder theirdown-droppedlids.Thiswasthefirsttimewehadheardofanysuchbook.Butthatis thewayinaconvent.Ameasurewhichaffectsyourverylifemaybesettled,andyoube nonethewiser
"Verywell,reverendmother,Ishallsaynomoreatthistime!"saidthechaplain,aftera moment'spause."Iwillreporttoyourreverendvisitorthatyouhavedecidedtotake mattersintoyourownhands,andthatbeingthecase,hewilldoubtlessleavethishouse anditsinhabitantstotheirfate—thatfatewhichhasalreadyovertakensomanyreligious communities.Whenthecommissionerscomedownandyouseeyourrevenuesconfiscated andyourdaughtersturnedout,andthebeautifulshrineoftheHolyMagdalenestrippedof allitsornamentsandtreasures,Ihopeyouwillbesatisfiedwithyourcontumacy."
"Ishallnotbesatisfiedatall,andIdon'twantmydaughtersturnedout!"saidthe prioress."AndIamnotcontumacious,either.Ihavealwaysdonejustasourvisitor directedabouteverything,andyouknowIhave,FatherSimon;onlyIcan'tseehowthe kingcanbesupremeheadofthechurch,whenthepopeisthehead!Iwouldlaydownmy lifeforthishouse!"sheadded,raisingherselffromherchairandstandingerectwitha
dignitythatmighthavebelongedtoSt.KatherineofEgypt,oranyothersaintedqueen."I wouldbetornbywildbeastsbeforemydear,dutifulchildrenshouldbeturnedoutupon theworld;butIcannotdenytheauthorityofourHolyFatherthePope,andputanotherin hisplace,withoutgreaterandbetterreasonthanIseenow,andsowithmyhumbleduty andreverence,youmaytellhisreverence,SirChaplain."
Welookedateachotherwithoutdisguisenow,sogreatwasouramazement.Ifthefigure oftheHolyVirginintheLadyChapelhadspoken,weshouldnothavebeenmore surprised.Butwehadnotlongtoindulgeourwonder.Isawthemotherassistantmove nearertotheprioress,andinanotherinstantthepoorladyhadsunkdowninherchairina fit.
Theroomwasallinconfusionforamoment;butnuns,likesoldiers,feelthepowerof habitualdiscipline,andinaminuteortwo,motherassistanthadrestoredorder.Sheand thesick-nurseweresupportingtheprioress,andshecalledmetohelpher,asIwasoneof thestrongestofthefamily,biddingtheothersbetakethemselvestothework-rooms, wherewastheirplaceatthishour
Wecarriedtheladytoherownroom,withthehelpofthetwopriests—wecouldhardly havedoneitwithoutthem,shewassoheavy andFatherAustin,whowassurgeonaswell aspriest,proceededtobleedher.Thebloodwouldhardlyflowatfirst,butatlastitdid, andthetreatmentwassofarsuccessful,thatthemotheropenedhereyes,andswallowed therestorativewhichwasputintohermouth,thoughshedidnottrytospeak,and seemedtoknownoone.Weundressedher,andgotherintobed,andthenmother assistantdismissedme,biddingmegoandtaketheairalittleforthatIlookedpale. IndeedIhadhadmuchadotokeepfromfainting,asIhadneverseenanypersonbled before,butIsummonedallmyresolution,andheldout.
Iwenttotheworkroomwhereallthesisterswereassembledroundtheframes,onwhich thenewhangingswerebeingworkedfortheLadyChapel.Wewerepermittedsomuch converseaswasactuallyneedful,atsuchtimes,andnotuncommonlythelibertywas stretchedalittle,for,asIsaidbefore,thedisciplineofourhousewasnotoverstrict;butI neverheardsuchagabbleaswasnowgoingon.AsIenteredandwenttothepresstofind myownparticularbitofwork(whichwasapieceofneedlelaceonasmallframe), intendingtotakeitoutintothesummer-house,Iwasassailedbyavolleyofquestions.
"Howisthereverendmother?""Hathshespoken?""Willshedie?""Willshelive?""Willshe taketheoath?""Whereisthemotherassistant,andMotherJoanna?"
Itvexedmetoseethemallsoreadytotakeadvantageoftheirelder'sabsence,andI answered,rathersharply,Ifear.
"Howmanymore?Themotherisbetter,butshehasnotspoken,andnooneknows whethershewillliveordie—muchmorewhethershewilltaketheoath.Astomother assistant,andMotherJoanna,itisveryplainthatwherevertheyare,theyarenothere. Onecouldtellthathalfamileoff."
Someofthesisterslookedashamed,butSisterPerpetuaansweredmesharply: "Youareverypert,SisterPostulant."(Thathadbeenmyrankforagoodwhilenow,forI hadnootherthoughtthantoendmydaysatSt.Magdalene's.)"Itdoesnotbecomeyouto reproveandcheckyourelders."
"Itdoesnotbecomeherelderstogivecauseofreproof!"saidSisterBridget,aquiet, retiringwoman,theelderoftheparty:"Thechildisright,andwehavebeentoblame.As
theoldestpresent,Imustrequestyou,sisters,tobequietandattendtoyourwork."
"Youarenottheoldestpresent,"answeredSisterPerpetua."SisterAnneisolderthan you."
"No,indeed,Iamnot!"saidSisterAnne,withsomesharpness."SisterBridgetisfullyhalf adozenyearsolderthanIam,areyounot,sister?"
"Morethanthat,Ishouldsay,"repliedSisterBridget,tranquilly.(N.B.*Shewasvery prettyandyounglooking,whileSisterAnnewasbothplainandwrinkled.)"Butyouknow aswellasI,sister,thatitisnotage,butstandinginthehouse,thatsettlessuchmatters. Again,astheoldestpresent,Imustrequestyou,sisters,topursueyourworkinsilence. Prayersandpsalmsandholymeditationsarebetterfittedforpeopleinourevilcase, threatenednotonlywiththedeathofourreverendmother,butwiththelossofallthings, thansuchlaughingandgossipashasgoneonforthelasthalfhour.Itakeshameto myself,andthankthechildforherreproof,thoughitmighthavebeenmoregently spoken."
* N B nota bene
"Ibegyourpardon,sister,"saidI.
Shehadspokenwithagreatdealofgravity,andfeeling,andmostofthesistershadthe gracetolookashamed,onlySisterPerpetuamutteredunderherbreath,butsoIheard her:
"Fineairs,tobesure.Butyouarenotprioressjustyet,andmanythingsmayhappen."
Idon'tknowwhatbroughthertoareligioushouse,Iamsure,unlessitwasthather friendswishedtogetridofher,whichwasthereasonagreatmanynunswereprofessedin thosedays.Iamverysuresheneverhadanyvocationforsuchalife,andsheshowedit aftershegotout.
Bythattimemyfaintnesswasgone,butIthoughtIwouldliketobealone,soItoldSister Bridgetwhatmotherassistanthadsaid,andwithdrew.
IhadplentytothinkaboutasIworked.Coulditbepossiblethatourhousewouldbe turnedoutofwindows,asthatoftheGrayNunsatBridgewaterhadbeen—thatvenerable institutionfoundedinthedaysoftheConfessor andifso,whatwouldbecomeofall?I hadnotheardfrommyuncle,norfromLadyPeckhaminseveralyears,andknewnot whethertheywerealiveordead.However,Iwasnotsogreatlyconcernedaboutmyown fate.Iwasyoungandstrong,agoodneedle-womanandmusician,andIthoughtIcould easilyfindaplaceaswaiting-woman,ortoattenduponyounggentlewomen.
ButwhatwouldbecomeofsuchasSisterBridgetandSisterCicely,andSisterSacristine andMotherJoanna—oldwomenwhohadspentalltheirlivesinthosewalls,andknew nothingoftheworldbeyondtheirboundary.ThenIbegantothinkaboutthatBibleandto wonderwhereitwas,andwhatwasinit.Irememberedthetextmotherassistanthad quoted,andwondered—notwithoutblamingmyselfforthethought—ifshehadreaditin thatsameBible.
Wehadheardbefore,thatthoughpeoplewerepermittedtoreadtheWordofGod,they wereforbiddentodiscussordisputeaboutit,whichwasmuchasifoneshouldopenthe floodgatesalittleandthenforbidthewatertorunthrough.
Iwassolostinmymusings,thatIstartedasifIhadbeenshotwhenthebellrungfor vespers.Weheardatsupperthattheprioresshadralliedalittle,butneitherFatherAustin northedoctor,whohadbeensentfor,believedshecouldgetwell.
Thatwasananxioustime.Theprioresslingeredforseveraldays,sometimesquiteherself forafewhoursatatime,butmostlylyinginadeath-likestupor.Theelderswereofcourse muchwithher,andthedisciplineofthehousewasunusuallyrelaxed.
Itwasatimethatshowedwhatpeopleweremadeof.Thereallysincereandreligious sisterswentonwiththeirdutiesjustasusual,beingperhapsalittlemorepunctiliousin theirperformance;otherstookadvantage,brokerules,gottogetherinknotsandcoteries andgossiped—notalwaysinthemostedifyingway—ofwhatwascomingtopass,andwhat theywoulddowhentheygotout.Iwasveryangrywiththemthen,butIcanmakemore excusefortheminthesedays.Manyofthem,likeSisterPerpetua,hadnorealcallingtoa religiouslife(itwascalledthereligiouslifeinthosedays,asifnoonecouldbereligious outacloister).Theyweremostlyyoungerdaughtersandorphansisters,whowerenot likelytomarrywellandweresenttotheconventasasafeandrespectableplaceoutof theway.Notthatallwereso,byanymeans,butwehadenoughofthatelementtorejoice inanyrelaxationofrules.
Onedayatsunset,however,thesuspensewasatanendsofarastheprioresswas concerned.Wewereallcalledintotheante-roomoftheapartmenttoassistatthelast rites,andaftertheywereover,westoodwatchingourpoormotherwho,supportedinthe armsofmotherassistant,waspainfullygaspingherlifeaway.Herfaceworeananxious expression,andhereyesturnedfromonetoanotherinawaythatshowedshewasquite conscious.Nowandthenshesaidawordortwoinalowtone—solowthatweintheouter roomcouldnothear.Atlastmotherassistantbeckonedme,andwhisperedmetogiveher adrynapkinfromapilethatlayonthetable.
AsIdidso,Iheardtheprioresssay,inadistressedwhisper:
"ButPurgatory—thatdreadfulplace—areyousure?"
Motherassistantbentdowntoherandwhisperedinherear Iwasclosebyandheardthe wordsplainly:
"ThebloodofJesusChristcleansethusfromallsin."
Thepoorladysmiled,andjustasthelastrayofthesunshotintothewindow,shepassed peacefullyaway.
Shewasagoodwomaninthemain,andverymuchofalady,butshehadallowed indolence—comingfromanillnessinthefirstplace—togrowuponher,tillitbecamean overmasteringpassion—ifonecancallindolenceapassion.
Itcametothat,thatanycalltoexertionwaslookeduponasapositivemisfortune.She hadsuchableassistants,thatthisstateofthingsdidnotproducesomuchtroubleas mighthavebeenexpected,butanyonewhoknowswhatahousefulofungovernedyoung peopleislike,mayguesswhatourcommunitywouldhavebecomebutforFatherAustin andmotherassistant.
Assoonasitwasdecent,anewmeetingwascalled,andnoonewassurprisedatthe choiceofmotherassistanttobeprioress.MotherJoannawasmadeassistantandSister
Bridgetputinherplace—averygoodchoice.
At"obedience,"whenwewereallassembledinherroom,ournowprioressmadeusan address,andverynobleandtouchingitwas.Sheremindedusofourprecariouscondition, likelyatanytimetobeturnedout.Shesaidshehadbeenpainedtoknowthatsome—she wouldnamenonamesatpresent—butwouldleavethemattertoourownconsciences— hadtakenadvantageofthestateofthingstobehaveinawaywhichwasunbecomingtheir profession,andtogoodorder.Heretwoorthreeofourbestsisterswhohadbeenguiltyof somelittleactsofforgetfulnesskneeleddownandkissedthefloor,whileSisterPerpetua andSisterRegina,whohadbeenthering-leaders,stoodupasboldasbrass.(Itisalways thosewhodeserveblameleastwhotakeittothemselves.)
Shethenpointedouttheimportanceofgoodorderanddiscipline,thatourenemiesmight havenothingwhereofjustlytoaccuseus.Shewouldnotconcealthefactthatwestoodin greatperil,butwewereinhigherhandsthanourown.Shewouldhaveusneitheranxious norcareless,butpursuingarecollectedandcheerfulframeofmind,givingourselvesto prayerandgoodworks,andnotbeinganxiousaboutthemorrow.Shewouldpassoverall thathadhappenedforthelastfewdays,unlesstherewerethosewhowishedtocleartheir consciencesbyconfessinganybreachofdiscipline:buthereafter,everythingwouldbe keptuptothestandardsofthehouse.Sheconcludedbyaskingourprayersforherselfand herassistants,inatoneoftruehumilitythatbroughttearstomanyeyes.Wenoticedthat shesaidnothingaboutprayingforthesoulofourdepartedmother,wherebyweargued thatshebelievedthatsoultobealreadyinParadise.Shethendismisseduswithher blessing,andallthingsseemedtofallintotheirusualtrain.
Ihaveheardthatpeoplewholivewheretherearevolcanoes,getusedtothemsothat theycarryontheirbusinessjustasifnothingwasthematter.Wewerethenlivingonthe crustofavolcanowhichmightblowusintotheairatanytime,butwehadalready becomeusedtoit,andastheautumnpassedintowinter,wealmostforgotourdanger. SisterPerpetua,indeed,triedtitlesonceortwice,butshesoonfoundthatwhilethe reverendmotherhadahouseoverherhead,shemeanttobemistressinit,andafter doingpenancethreewholedaysinthevaultedroomunderthesacristyonadietofbread andwater,andnotmuchofthat,shewasverymeekandsubduedforawhile.
Somehoworotherthestormwasdivertedforthattime.IsupposethatBishopGardiner, beingsogreatwiththeking,contrivedtokeepthematterfromhisknowledge.Howeverit was,theapplesweregatheredandgarneredinpeace,theusualstockoffaggotslaidin, andwesettleddowntoourin-dooroccupationsasifnothingwasthematter.
Thereverendmotherhadagreatdealofworkputinhand,andinsteadofourusual whisperedconversations,wehadloudreadingintheImitationofChrist,andothergood books.SometimesourmotherwouldreaduspassagesoutoftheGospels,fromalittle writtenbookwhichsheheldinherhand,copiedIfancyfromthatsamegreatBiblewhich wasneverputinthechurch.IhadreadmanyofthembeforeinthegreatbookofMaster Tyndale's,whichmyunclekeptinhisdesk,andtheysetmethinkingmorethaneverof mineoldhome.Thesereadingsweremuchlikedbytheseriouspartofourcommunity,and asfortheothers,whatevertheymightfeel,theyknewenoughtokeeptheirowncounsel.
Itwasaboutthistime,IrememberbeingstruckwiththefactthatinthewholeImitation, frombeginningtoend,thereisnotonesinglewordorhintofanyworshipofferedtothe Virgin.IventuredtosayasmuchoncetoFatherAustin,withwhomIstilldidaLatin lessonnowandthen,andtoaskhimwhathethoughtwasthereason;whereathesmiled, andsaidwhenIsawSaintThomasinParadiseImightaskhim.
Theorchardsboreveryplentifullythatyear,andwesoldourcropatagoodprice.Wewere helpingtopickupthelastofthemonefineOctoberday,whenoldAdamremarkedthathe wonderedwhowouldhavetheorderingofthosesametreesanotheryear
"Why,youyourself whynot?"saidI.
"Na,na,lassie,I'llnobeherenextyear;atleastIthinknot."
"Youdonotthinkyouaregoingtodie?"saidI,anxiously,forhewasagreatfriendof mine."Doyoufeelill?"
"No,Ihavemyhealthwellenoughforoneofmyyears.ButweIslesmenhavewhilesa gliffofthesecondsight,andIhavehadstrangevisionsconcerningthishouse."
"Oh,youarethinkingaboutthevisitofthecommissioners!"saidI."Butyouseethathas blownoverandnothinghascomeofit."
"Ihavewhilesseenastormblowoverandthencomeback!"saidtheoldman,seriously "Na,na,lassie.Dinnabetooconfident.What'sfristed*isnoforgotten."
* Fristed is "covered up," or "skinned over "
THE
THEoldmanwasright.Withthespringcamerumorsofrenewedattacksuponthe religiousfoundationsalloverthecountry.WeheardbeforeoftheexecutionoftheBishop ofRochester,wholaiddownhisgrayheadupontheblockbecausehewouldnot acknowledgethekingtobepope—forthatiswhatitamountedto.(Nothingcanbemore absurdthantocallHenrytheEighthaProtestant.)Ourownprioressmightbesaidtohave diedinthesamecause.
Nobodyhadappearedtoadministertheoathtoourpresenthead,however,andwehad beguntothinkthatweweretobeletalone.Idonotbelievethatthereverendmotherhad anysuchhopes.Ourfoundationwasawealthyone,andourchurchwaswell-knowntobe unusuallyrichingoldandsilver.Therewasabundanceofshrines,reliquariesandboxes,as
CHAPTER VI.
LIGHTNING STRIKES AGAIN.
valuablefortheirsplendidworkmanshipasforthepreciousmetalsofwhichtheywere made,andthejewelswithwhichtheywereincrusted.Thenthereweremissalssetwith preciousstones,beautifulhangingsandvestments,andvessels,andcandlesticks,andthe like.Thesearticleswerealldisplayeduponfeastdays,andwhenourgreataltarwas lightedupatthefestivalofourPatroness,itwasaspectaclealmosttoobrightformortal eyes.
SuchapreywasnotlikelyverylongtoescapetheteethandclawsofmyLordCromwell, andhismaster.BishopGardinerhimselfwasveryforwardinpromotingtheking'sdesigns uponthereligioushouses(forasdevoutasheafterwardprofessedhimself).Hewasour visitor,asIhavesaid,andwhentheveryshepherdisinleaguewiththewolves,thesilly sheephavelittlechanceofescape.
ItwasonabeautifulmorninginMaythatdestructionovertookus.Wehadjustcomeout ofchapelforourrecreation,whenweheardathunderingknockingatthegreatgate,and theportressgoingtoopenit,foundacoupleofgentlemen,andouroldfriend,orenemy, thebishop'schaplain,withlettersfrommyLordCromwellandBishopGardinerforthe prioressandcommunity.
Wewereallinthegarden,huddledtogetherandwatchingafaroff,whenthemother assistantcalledustocomeintotheante-roomofthechoir,wherewewerewonttoputon thelongmantleswhichweworeinchurch.Wewerebidtoarrayourselvesasquicklyas possibleandgetourselvesintotheusualorderofourprocession.Thisbeingdone,and precededbythecross-bearers,aswasthewayinourgrandprocessionals,thesingers passedintothechoir,singingasusual,Ibeingattheorgan,whichIwasaccustomedto playforallchurchservices.Theyoungestsisterscamefirstandtheprioresslast.
FatherAustinstoodnearthealtar,hisheadboweddownwithgrief,yetcommanding himselflikeaman.Thebishop'schaplainandthetwoothervisitorsstoodbesidehim,and thelatterwerepassingtheirremarksfreelyenoughuponalltheysaw,andevenonthe figuresandfacesofthesisters.Standinguponthechancelstepstheycouldlookdirectly intothechoir,whichnooneinthebodyofthechurchcouldseeatall.Imustdoourladies thejusticetosaythattheyseemed,oneandall,totallyunconsciousofthepresenceof thesestrangemen.EvenSisterPerpetuawasawedintodecentbehavior.
Whenallwereintheirplaces,thechaplainannouncedhiserrand.Hehadcome,bythe authorityofthekingandhisminister,myLordCromwell,todemandthesurrenderofthe charterofthathousetohismajesty,withalltreasuresofeverysort,andallsuperstitious relics,whereofmylordwaswellinformedwepossessedagreatnumber.Allmembersof thefamilyweretobeatlibertytodepartwhithertheywould,beingfurnished,bythe king'sliberality,withasuitofsecularclothing.Astothehouseanditscontents,theywere tobeattheabsolutedispositionoftheking,andnoonewastopresume,onpainoffelony, tosecrete,carryoff,ormakeawaywithanyarticlewhatever,thoughbytheking'sspecial graceandfavortowardthebishop,thesistersmighttakeanybooksorotherpropertyof theirown,notabovethevalueofthreemarks.*Thevisitorshadbroughtdownarticlesof surrenderfortheprioresstosign,andtwoofthecommissionerswouldremaintotakean inventoryofourgoods,andseesuchaswereofvaluepackedforremoval.
* See many such surrenders in the Camden Miscellany and in Fuller's Church History.
Idonotsupposethatanyonenowcanestimatetheshockofthisdeclaration.Idothink,if theearthhadquakedandshakendownchurchandconventinonecommonruin,itwould
nothaveamazedandhorrifiedusasmuch.Iamsurewhenthespirewasstruckby lightning—wherebytwoofourbellsweremelted—wewerenotnearlyasastounded.*
I,hiddenawayintheorganloft,couldwatchthefacesofthesisters.Oneortwoburstinto tears,butthegreaterpartweretoomuchstunnedtomove.Theprioresswasverypale, butshespokeinherusualeven,somewhatdeepvoice.
* Fuller notes, as remarkable, the number of abbeys and priories which were, at one time or another, burned by lightning He gives a list of thirteen thus destroyed
"Theseareheavytidingsyoubringus,gentlemen.Howhavewebeensounfortunateasto fallunderhisGrace'sdispleasure?"
Thegentlemenlookedateachother,andoneofthembeganrecitingalonglistofthesins andshortcomingsofthereligioushouses,wherebyhismajestywasmoved,byhiszealfor truereligion,tosuppressallhousesbelowacertainvalue—twohundredpoundsayear I believe.Theprioressheardhimtotheend,andansweredinthesamecalmtone.
"Forthemisordersandscandalswhereofyouspeak,Icananswerfornohousebutmy own.SureIam,thatforthefortyyearsIhavelivedinthesehallowedwalls,nosuchthing hashappenedhere,andasourrevenuesarenearertothreehundredayearthantwo,I seenothowhisGrace'sroyalwillappliestous."
"Wewillbethejudgesofthat,"answeredthecommissioner,arrogantly."Astothematter ofscandals,wehavebeenbetterinformedbysomeofyourownnumber.Therehavebeen scandalsenow,especiallyoflate.Willyoudaretellme,woman,thatnoyoungmenhave beenentertainedinthishouse—thattherehasbeennojunketingandcarousinginthevery parloroftheprioressherself.Itellyouwehavesureinformation,andwillyoudaretodeny it?"
Theprioresspausedforalittle,andlethereyestravelfromfacetofaceroundthecircle. WhenshecametoSisterPerpetuaandSisterRegina,shelookedtheminthefaceforafull minute.Therewasnoneedtoinquirefurtherwhowasthefalsewitness.Theirvisages spokeforthem.(Itwasmuchthesamewithallthereligioushouses.Therewasalways sometraitorinthecamp,ready,whetherforgreedofgainortocurryfavor,orbecauseof wearinessoftheirvows,toinformagainsttheirbrethren.)Theladywasabouttospeak again,whentheothercommissionerinterruptedher.Hewastheelderofthetwo,and altogethermoredecentinhisdemeanor.
"Underyourfavor,honoredlady,Iwouldcounselyoutotaketimeforadvisement,andto readthelettersentyoubyyourreverendvisitor,whichhischaplainwillhandyou.After that,wewillhearyourdecision."
"Itiswellspoken,sir,"answeredtheprioress."Meantime,pleaseyou,gentlemen,to withdrawtothehouseofFatherAustin,ourpriestandconfessor,whereIwillgiveorderfor yourentertainment."
"Nay,reverendmother,methinksthecommonfareofyourrefectorywillsuituswell enough,"returnedtheyoungerman."Ifalltalesbetrue,wearenotthefirstwhohavehad suchentertainment,andmethinksweweresafertomakeyouourtaster."
Thereverendmothermadenoreplytohisimpudence,butgivingasigntothesisters, theywithdrewastheyhadentered.Whenallhadpassedbutherselfandthemother assistant,sheadvancedtothewidegratingwhichseparatedthechoirfromthechurch,
andheldoutherhand,coveredwithafoldofherrobe,forthebishop'sletter.Theelder mangaveitherwithareverenceforwhichIlikedhimallthebetter,andsaid,inalow tone,astheotherturnedaway:
"Beadvised,madam.Resistancecandonogood,andwillbringonlyheaviercalamityon yourselfandyourflock.Beadvised,andfollowyourvisitor'scounsel."
"Ithankyou,sir,foryourwords,whichIseearekindlymeant,"saidtheprioress;"butI musthavelittletimetoconsiderthematter.Howlongcanyougiveme?"
Hecalledbackhisbrothercommissioner,andafterconsultation,inwhichheseemedto presssomepointwhichtheotheryieldedunwillingly,heturnedandsaid:"Tillto-morrow atthishour,madam."
"Ithankyou,"saidtheladyoncemore—andpassedoutofthedoor.Iclosedmy instrument,notwithoutasob,asIthoughtImightnevertouchitagain,andfollowedthe reverendmother
Itwasnowthetimefordinner,butthebellhadnotbeenrung.Thesisterswerestanding talkingtogetherinexcitedgroups,andmanyanangryandcontemptuousglancewascast atthetwotraitors.Theprioressatoncerestoredorder,andbadetheportressringthebell fordinner.
"Letushavenomisorder—norelaxationofdisciplineonwhatmayperhapsbeourlastday inthisblessedinclosure,"saidshe."Slanderedwehavebeenandmaybe,butletuskeep ourownconsciencesclearandunstained.Thatcomfortnoonecantakefromus."
Itwasafeastday,andourcheerwasbetterthancommon,butnobodyfeltlikeeating.The ceremoniesofthetablewentonasusual,however,andthereader'svoiceneverfaltered. Afterdinnercamerecreation,andthenthetongueswereletlooseagain.
"Well,formypart,Icarenotwhatbecomesofmeafterthis,"saidSisterSacristine."I havelivedtoolong."
"Donotsaythat,sister,"returnedMotherBridget,gently."Wecannotsaywhatgracious purposemayyetbeinstoreforus."
"Don'ttalkofgraciouspurposes!"saidtheSacristine,angrily."HerehaveIbeenserving theblessedMagdalenealltheseyears,wearingmyfingerstothebonecleaningofher shrinewithwashleatherandhartshornsaltsandwhatnot,andthisiswhatIgetbyit.And toseetheholyrelicscarriedoffanddispersedafterallmycare."
Thepooroldladyburstintotearsandweptbitterly,andmorethanonejoinedher.
Asforme,Istoleawaytoafavoriteplaceofretirement alittleshrineororatoryinthe orchard,halfhiddenbytreesandthick,clusteringivy.HereIwasusedtokeepcertain booksofmyown—aLatinImitationandPsalter,andaprayerbookwhichIhadbrought frommyoldhomeatPeckhamHall.Ihopedforalittlesolitudetocollectmythoughts,but Iwasdisappointed.
AsIdrewnear,Iheardmen'svoicesinthebuilding,andrecognizedthemforthoseofthe oldScotchgardenerandMr.Lethbridge,theyoungercommissioner.
"Sothisisthejaw-boneofSt.Lawrence,isit?"saidthelatter;andpeepingthrougha crack,Isawwithhorrorthathewastossingitupanddowninhishand."Itlooksmorelike apig'sjawtome."
"Maybe,"answeredAdam."Ye'llbeabetterjudgeofthatarticlethanme.Itwasayecalled thejawofSt.Lawrenceinmytime."
"Whatofit—supposeitwas?"saidtheother,arrogantly."Whatgoodcoulditdoanyone? Formypart,IcarenomoreforSt.Lawrence'sjawthanforMahomet's."
"IwouldnaspeakscornfullyofthejawofMahometginIweretalkingtoaTurk,"retorted Adam."Imightarguewi'him,ginIthoughtitwouldbetoedification,butIwouldnascorn athim.Iwouldthinkitillmanners."
Forallanswer,Mr.Lethbridgetossedtherelicfromhim,andorderedthegardenertoshow himtherestofthegrounds.Whentheyweregone,Ienteredthechapel,andhaving gatheredmybookstogether,IpickedupthejawofSt.Lawrence,whichcertainlyhadan oddshapeforaman's,wipedthedustfromit,andlaiditbackinitsplace.Then,asudden thoughtstrikingme,Idugaholeintheearth,atthefootofthegreathoneysuckle,and buriedit;andthereitmaybenow,foraughtIknow.
Ourserviceswentonasusualduringtheday—thelastday,perhaps,theywouldeverbe performedinthosewallswhichhadheardprayersandchantsforsomanyhundredyears. Itwastouchingtoseehowpunctiliouslyalmostallthesistersperformedeveryduty,even thesmallest.
Therewereexceptions,however.AsIsaid,wehadtwoorthreewhohadnovocation whatever,andtheytriedtotakeliberties,andwerenotashamedtoexchangemocking glancesandwhispers,eveninthehourofmeditation.Nobodytookanynoticeofthem, however,excepttodrawawaywhentheycamenearasiftheyhadthepestilence.I rememberSisterReginatookholdofthesleeveofSisterAnne'shabittodrawher attentiontosomething,shebeingalittledeaf,whereupontheoldlady,havingherscissors inherhand,deliberatelycutouttheplaceReginahadtouchedandtrampleditunderher feet.ItwasnotaveryChristianact,perhaps,butwewereallgladofit.SisterReginadid havethegracetolookabashedforamoment,themorethatshehadalwaysbeenrathera favoritewithSisterAnne.
Thatevening,justbeforebed-time,SisterSacristinemetmeinthegalleryanddrewme asideintothesacristy,andthenintoalittleinnervaultedroomwhereourmostvaluable relicswerestored,whennotexposedtotheadorationofthefaithful.Thepreciousshrines whichwereusedatthesetimeswerekeptinanotherplace,whereofthekeywasalready inthehandsofthecommissioners.Shuttingthedoor,andopeningadarklanternwhich shecarried,shewhisperedinmyear:
"Loveday,youareabravegirl.Irememberhowyoufacedthebullthatdayhegotout.Will youhelpmetosaveourmostpreciousrelicfromprofanation?"
"IfIcan!"saidI,doubtfully."Butwhatisityouwanttodo?"
Sheglancedround,andthenwhisperedinmyear:
"IwanttoletouttheVirgin'ssmoke.Butthestopperistoostiffformyfingers,andIwant youtoopenitandletthesmokeout.Thenwecanleavethebottleaswefoundit!"
NowthisbottleofsmokefromtheBlessedMother'shearthatBethlehemwas,indeed,our mostpreciousrelic,andwaslookeduponwithawfulreverence.Ifullysympathizedwith SisterSacristine'sdesiretosaveitfromprofanation,butIwasratherscaredattheideaof touchingit,notknowingexactlywhatitmightdoifitgotout.
