The Lady of Blossholme

ew something of the woman's repute, and suspected more, resisted it with all her strength, but here the Prioress intervened in her gentle way. She herself, she explained, did not

people who did not pay her well. Now in this instance her pay would be ample, for she, Mother Matilda, had promised her a splendid fee out of her private store, and for the rest, since no man doctor might enter there, who else was competent? Not she or the o

ery fear Emlyn was humble and civil to her, for if she were not, who could know if she would put out all her skill upon behalf of her mistress

tilda and all the nuns kissed and blessed it? Had it not also, for fear of accident (such was the fatherly forethought of the Abbot), been baptized at once by a priest who was waiting, under the names of John

pounds in weight at the very least. Also, as its voice and movements testified, it was lusty and like to live, for did not the Flounder, in sight of all t

away had it not been for a device of Emlyn's. For when she was at her worst and the Flounder, shaking her head and sayin

did not stir. "Darling," she repeated, "hea

d a little on the pillow

d. "Why, he is gone, as I soo

ves, or so I believe, though her

moment, and the eyes stare

I want it now. I'll listen. I promise you I'll not die till you have to

ounded aboard the ship Great Yarmouth, of the fate of which ship fortunately she had heard nothing. Still, slight as they might be, to Cicely these tidings were a ma

who fell into hands like hers. Indeed, she was bitterly disappointed, knowing that this death was desired by her employer, who now after all might let the Ford Inn to another. Moreover, the child was no waster, but

rs, gave orders that it was not to be. So, since the mother was too weak to have it with her, the boy was laid in a little cot at her side. And always day and night one or more of the sweet-faced nuns stood at the he

hauntings they shunned the place after high noon, Cicely, whose strength was returning to her, asked Emlyn to change her garments and remake her bed. Meanwhile, the babe was given to Sister Bridget, who doted on it, with instructions to take it to walk in the gar

face to within an inch of the nun's. "You'll let it fall and I shall be blamed. Give

Then, recovering herself a little, or drawn by some instinct, s

heard her bolt the door after her. Now Bridget, as she said afterwards, grew very frightened, she knew not why, and, acting on

showed it all, that on the paving before her lay the infant and that this she-devil was thrusting her thick forefinger down its throat, for

Flounder looked up, saw him and, withdrawing her finger from the mouth of the child, let out yell

e. Spare me for Christ's sake!" and so saying, she rolled on to th

gain and cried, marched with it down the aisle. The next thing of which Bridget became aware was that he stood before her, the inf

Bid her fear nothing, for one devil I have

, rushed through the side door, headed by Mother Matilda. They too saw the figure, and knew the Foterell cogni

ned old Bridget, but could get nothing from her, for all she did was to gibber and point first to the barrow and next to the chancel window. At lengt

othing, for she and Emlyn did not hear the screams, their rooms being on the other side of the building. The Abbot had been sent for, and, accompanied by monks, arrived in the midst of a thunder-storm and pouring rain. He, too, had he

t, and they went there to find th

arkness was dense, the Abbot leading them. They came to the chancel, where something lay upon the floor, and held down the torches to look. Then they saw that whi

embled in the guest-chamber, and opposite to them wer

witchcraft! Satan himself and his foulest demons walk the countryside and

death and bringing a hateful mu

et thee behind me, Satan. I know you and yo

that ghost. But what did the spirit do? It slew the hellish woman whom you sent among us and it rescued the blessed babe when her finger was down its throat to choke out its pure life. If that be witchcraft I stand by it. Tell us what did the wretch me

ch shall be pronounced against you all. Dare not to leave your doors until the Court is composed to try you. Think not you shall escape. Your English land is s

y Lord Abbot, the charter of this Nunnery is from the monarch of England, whatever authority you and those that went before you have usurped. It was granted by the first Edward, and the appointment of every prioress since his day has been signed by the so

she was up and walking, and within ten days as strong, or stronger, than ever she had been. Nothing more had been heard of the Abbot, and th

t length she knew all; namely, that the tidings came from Thomas Bolle, and that he, dressed in her father's armour, was the ghost who had saved her boy from death. Now nothing would serve her but

ew the dangers of such a meeting; but in the end,

e heard knocks, which were the signal of the presence of Thomas Bolle. Emlyn answered them with other knocks, which told that all was safe, whereon the wooden image turned and Thomas appeared, dressed as before in Sir John Foterell's armour. So like did he

forth is yours should I ever have anything again, who am but a prisoned begga

ld and that spawn of hell, the Flounder, be grateful to God, not to me, for it was by mere chance that I came here that evening, which I had not intended to do. I was going about my busin

ngs whereof Emlyn has spoken to me. She said-ah! she said my husband, whom I thought slain and buried, in truth was only wounded and not buried,

earned, and the sum of it was that Sir Christopher had been shipped abroad upon the Great Yarmou

y. "Has naught been heard of this sh

itated, th

said nothing of it even to Emlyn, she was reported

at othe

d he told me that from him he learned that the Great Yarmouth was set upon by two Turkish pirates and captured after a brave fight in which the captain Goody and others were killed.

thing, Thomas? That

, no craven as I know, fighting like devils till the Turks overwhelmed them by numbers, and, having bound their hands,

cely plied him with questions, which he answered as

e window!"

, for there staring at them through the glass was t

"Say only that I came to haunt you," and silentl

now, E

t. Is it our fault if your father's ghost should haunt this chap

rout of attendants. Within two paces of the women they halted, hanging togeth

sed from her and sh

ith us, my Lord A

ape was that which spoke with you

murderess. It wore my father's armour, but its face I did not see. It ha

le with us. What

g's Grave Mount and of those who wrought it," and she

t el

e will return again to be revenged upon you. It told me that he was captured by the infidel Moors, and with him Jeffrey Stokes, my father'

essed. The world has borne your sorceries too long, and you shall answer for them before God and man, as I, the Lord Abbot of Blossholme, have right

rossed the garden they were met by Mother Matilda and the nuns, who, for a s

, Cicely?" aske

Mother," she answer

is that the ghost of the murdered Sir

ppears to her is she therefore to be declared a witch? Then is poor Sist

d and shut up also. Greatly do I hope, when it comes to the hour of trial, that there may

wise not ill-treated. Indeed, save for their confinement, there was little change in the

ely, that they had consorted with a dim and awful creature called the Enemy of Mankind, whom, it was supposed, human beings had power to call to their counsel and assistance. To them who knew well that this being was

to some fearful fate which even then they would be called upon to shar

neither one side nor the other, and waite

n God. I am sure," she added, "that God will help us as He did when Mother Megges would have murd

trusted in God; to that the whole evil w

cause they did not trust enough or rightly. At least there

; to what will it grow, I wonder?" repl

to a sharp test. The Abbot came and spoke wit

well with you and your mistress, vile w

denied all kno

he answered. "Would you pay your

her own sake, and said she w

e her

e burned, Emlyn, do you then kno

o you, but I know. Speak the word

er child, which she held in her arm

e. I have told you in what I trust, and it is not jewels. Wh

also, I only spoke for your sake,"

t they should be excommunicated, then tortured and then burn

these jewels, but if they still exist they are mine, not yours, and I am innocent of any

hat you talk thus certainly? Well, Sorceress, soon you will sing

e said, "and prepare them for the rack, t

et her gentle fa

nd you have no such power. Moreover, if you move them hence, who are my

accomplices?" sneered th

heard, for that appeal to the K