The Cloister and the Hearth

e crippled daughter had long been anxious about Gerard, and now they were gone a little way down the road, to see if by good luck

dow; the cross stone-work in the centre of it was very massive, and stood in relief, looking like an actual cross to the inmates, and was eyed as such in their devotions. The panes were very small and lozenge-shaped, and soldered to one another with strips of lead: the like you may see to this day in our rural cottages. The chairs were rude and primitive, all but the arm-chair, whose back, at right angles with its seat, was so high that the sitter's head stopped two feet short of the top. This chair was of oak and carved at the summit. There was a copper pail, th

ora

rente rota cu

; so he could go up a vertical pole like a squirrel, and hang for hours from a bough by one hand like a cherry by its stalk. If he could have made a vacuum with his hands, as the lizard is said to do with its feet, he would have gone along a ce

ught Sampsonet in this posture, and stood aghast. She was her mother's d

ou? Mother is at hand

earer," snarled Giles. "You ar

Kate, calmly; "th

gou," growled Giles

d?" said K

ched, and Giles not visibly blaste

moment, and Giles hurled himself

rienced eye from Kate to Giles, and observing the position he had

word Giles spoke. I had not noticed it at another ti

d Gerard, pale dusty, and worn out; and amidst uplifted hands and cries of del

must hear about the prizes. Then Gerard told them he had been admitted to see the competitors' works all laid out in an enormous hall before the judges pronounced. "Oh, mother! oh Kate; when I saw the gold

s, crosiers, crosses, pyxes, monstrances, and other wonders ecclesiastical, and the

a better spirit, and presently I was able to enjoy them, and thank God for those lovely works, and for those skilful, patient craftsmen, whom I own my masters. Well, the coloured work

," sai

laughed h

eling on a cushion at the feet of the duke. He said something to me, but I was so fluttered I could not answer him. So then he put his hand to his side and did not draw a glaive and cut off my dull head,

ard! oh

two for thee, Little Lily, because God hath afflicted thee; and one for myself to buy colours an

led it along the floor and gambolled after it. Kate put down her crutches and sat down, and held out her little arms to Gerard with a heavenly gesture of love and tenderness, and the mother, f

ide her, and she flung her arms round him

eighbors. Lend me the medal, Gerard, I'll show it my good friend, Peter Buyskens; he

the angels. Tell him there are fourteen more wh

tter news behind," said Gerard, flu

Better th

view with the countess, an

t an end. Eli, my good friend and master, now we two can die happy whenever our time comes. T

d the affection and admiration of his parents, made him think more highly of himself, and resent with more spirit Margaret's ingratitude and discourtesy. For all that, she had power to cool him towards the rest of her sex, and now for every reason he wished to be ordained priest as soon as he could pass the intermediate orders. He knew the Vulgate already better than most of the clergy, and studied the rubric and the dogmas of the Church with his friends the monks; an

church, he was met by li

ath sent to our house seeking

Swieten? What wo

seems urgent to see you. You are

ate, I have seen him cast such a look on me as no friend casts.

what, G

thi

thi

, I'l