Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Code of Silence (Dark Kingdom #1) 1st Edition Shantel Tessier PDF Full Chapter
Code of Silence (Dark Kingdom #1) 1st Edition Shantel Tessier PDF Full Chapter
Code of Silence (Dark Kingdom #1) 1st Edition Shantel Tessier PDF Full Chapter
https://textbookfull.com/product/titan-dark-kingdom-2-1st-
edition-shantel-tessier/
https://textbookfull.com/product/grave-dark-kingdom-3-1st-
edition-shantel-tessier/
https://textbookfull.com/product/make-you-beg-1st-edition-
shantel-tessier/
https://textbookfull.com/product/dare-series-collection-
dare-1-3-1st-edition-shantel-tessier/
Kingdom of Ash 1st Edition Sarah J Maas
https://textbookfull.com/product/kingdom-of-ash-1st-edition-
sarah-j-maas/
https://textbookfull.com/product/empire-of-silence-the-sun-eater-
book-one-1st-edition-ruocchio-christopher/
https://textbookfull.com/product/alaska-kingdom-1st-edition-
aaron-crash/
https://textbookfull.com/product/the-kingdom-of-rus-christian-
raffensperger/
https://textbookfull.com/product/the-ethics-of-silence-an-
interdisciplinary-case-analysis-approach-1st-edition-nancy-
billias/
Another random document with
no related content on Scribd:
"But surely she might have looked into the garden, and
seen the Sisters at their recreation."
"No, child. The windows, you may have observed, are very
tall, and the lower parts were boarded up higher than she
could reach. When she was at last laid on her dying bed,
the boards were taken down, at her most earnest prayer,
that she might once more behold the green trees. Ah, well
do I remember, children," said the old Mother, wiping the
tears from her eyes. "I was alone with her after that, and
she said to me, clasping her hands—oh such thin hands!
You could see the light through the very palms of them, and
she had wound her finger with threads that she might not
lose her wedding-ring."
"And she said, clasping her poor hands, 'Oh dear sister, for
our dear Lord's sake, put me in my chair by the window,
and let me look on the face of the fair world once more.'
Well I knew she could not live long, at the best, so I even
humored her, and lifted her to the great chair by the
window."
"The sun was setting in great glory, and all the hills were
lighted with a purple glow. She gazed eagerly abroad, and
the very sunlight seemed reflected from her face."
"Even so. You see we did not think her so near her end. But
I trust her soul hath gotten grace. They buried her in the
corner of the cemetery farthest from the church. There is
nothing to mark the grave save the blue violets and lilies of
the valley I planted, and which have flourished
marvellously."
"Nay, child, I say naught against her, but what should you
do with such worldly friendships? No, no; I say no harm of
her; the saints forbid! But I like not her light-minded ways;
and courts, children—courts are slippery places. But, as I
said, do you be discreet and silent; speak only when spoken
to, take no liberties, and above all never forget your duty to
Heaven and this house, and you will do well, never fear."
August 1.
"So this is the sacred image which has stood since the time
of St. Ethelburga, and the fame of which has drawn her
grace to this out-of-the-way corner. What a hideous old idol
it is!"
"Do you go without any sign?" said she. "Is that the way
you receive reproof and command?"
Sister Catherine knelt and kissed the ground at the
superior's feet. Again I felt truly sorry for her. When she
was gone, Mother turned to me.
"And you, minion, what is this I hear? Must you turn giglet
on my hands? Let me hear what you have to say on this
matter, and beware you tell me nothing but truth."
I told her that the hand was my cousin Richard's, and that
Mrs. Bullen told me it came from him, but farther than that
I did not know. I ventured to add that it had but just been
placed in my hands when Sister Catherine came in. She
looked at the packet, and her face relaxed as she saw the
seals were unbroken.
"Well, well, I believe you and trust you," she said, finally.
"Do you leave the matter with me, and avoid any intimacy
or conversation with Mrs. Bullen, so far as you can without
exciting remark. Remember that though you have not taken
the vows, you have promised your mother and been
promised by her, and that 'tis a deadly sin for a religious so
much as to entertain a thought of earthly love. It is treason
to your heavenly Bridegroom, to whom all your allegiance is
due. He has called you to a grace compared to which the
highest earthly marriage is degradation and pollution; and
the day that sees you vowed to Him will be the proudest of
your life."
CHAPTER XII.
August 2.
I told her that I had not meant to bring her into disgrace,
and was sorry that I had done so—that I had had no choice
about showing the package, which had brought me into
danger of disgrace and punishment as well.
"Well, well!" said she, lightly. "I meant you a kindness, and
nothing more. I dare say Cousin Richard will easily console
himself. There are plenty of fair ladies about the French
court who will not scorn the favor of a handsome young
Englishman. I would I were back there myself, for this
English court is triste and dull enow, even without keeping
retreats in this grim old jail. As to my Lady Abbess, let her
look to her reign and enjoy it while she can. There is
thunder abroad in the air, and who knows where it will
strike!"
The Queen is very liberal, and gives with an open hand; but
she is shrewd, too, and will not be imposed upon. Roger
Smith, whom she met in the street, told her Grace a pitiful
tale of his sick wife and children, and his want of work. She
said but little at the time, giving him a small alms, but
presently she turned to me and asked if I knew anything
about them. I told her that he had help constantly from our
house; besides that, we bought fish of him, whenever we
could get them.
"And can he not get them as oft as you need them?" she
asked.
"I heard there was a sick woman with sick children living
here;" answered her Grace, "and that they were in want of
food; but fowls, and venison, and strong waters, and a man
asleep at this time of day, are no arguments either of
poverty or honesty."
And with that she turned and left the house, without
another word said, only the girl gave an insolent laugh.
Dame Lee, on whom we called afterward, and whom we
found spinning of fine thread, though she is above eighty
years old, told us that the Smiths were a shame and
scandal to the whole village—that the housewife herself was
no better than she should be, and Roger a good deal worse.
"Nay, 'tis but a scant mile, but the way is somewhat rough,"
answered the dame.
"No Madam, she hath never been married. She took care of
her old father as long as he lived, and was a most dutiful
and kind daughter to him; and since his death she has
bided alone, till of late that she hath adopted a little orphan
maid, one of the survivors of the great wreck last winter.
Magdalen owns the house she lives in, and a small garden
and orchard, which, with the thread she spins, makes most
part of her living. I fear she is often pinched, but she never
complains, or asks for help. She might have changed her
condition many times, for she was wonderful fair when I
first knew her, and of good conditions, and she is a well-
favored woman even now; but, nobody knows why, she
would none of her suitors, and still lives alone, save, as I
said, for the child she hath adopted."
"We must see this woman, I think," said the Queen, turning
to Patience and myself. "And now, dame, can we do naught
for you?"
"I wish, indeed, they might," said the Queen, with another
sad cloud crossing her face (and methought I saw another
on the face of Mrs. Patience). "Well, dame, since we can
bestow no alms upon you, will you not bestow one upon us,
and give us a draught of milk or fair water?"
"Then you may eat a little to please the good woman," said
the Queen, speaking in French, and more sharply,
methought, than was needful; but, somehow, I think she is
apt to be sharp with Mistress Anne. "I have seen you make
your court before now by eating when you had no need."
Mistress Anne colored as red as fire, but she obeyed without
a word. When we had eaten and drank, her Grace took from
her breast a very small gold crucifix.
"This cross, good dame, hath had the blessing of our holy
Father at Rome, and holds, beside, some earth from the
holy sepulchre. I pray you keep it as an aid to your devotion
and a remembrance of Queen Catherine; and when you look
thereon, give me the benefit of your prayers."