The Miracle at St. Bruno's

"It could not be true," he said; and I knew that he was imagining himself master of that place.

But it seemed that it was true. That week there were workmen putting back the lead on the roof. Simon went over there to talk to them, and when he came back he was pale with fury.

The workmen had been instructed to repair the roof; others were there cleaning the place.

They did not know on whom it had been bestowed. They merely had their orders to make it ready for habitation.

Part II

THE OWNER OF THE ABBEY

IT WAS June and the weather had turned hot. I had never seen so many bees at work on the clover, and the pimpernel made an edge of scarlet around our cornfields. Down by the river the nettles bloomed in profusion. My mother would be gathering them soon to make some potion. I believe she was happy. It amazed me that she could so soon recover from my father's death. The fact that a new life was stirring within her might have been responsible for this; but I had grown farther from her though I had never really been close.

I was thinking that soon they would be cutting the hay, and that this would be the last time Rupert would supervise that activity. He would leave us after harvest and

 I would have to make up my mind whether I was going with him. The workmen were apprehensive; they had trusted and relied on Rupert. I wondered idly whether people worked better through fear or love. Then I fell to thinking of haymaking in the good days before the King broke with Rome and we had not thought State affairs could so disrupt our house. Everyone used to be called in to work in the fields and the greatest fear in those days was that the weather might break before the crop was carried in. Father himself used to join us and I would come out with my mother to bring refreshment to workers in the fields so that little time should be lost.

I had almost made up my mind to go with Rupert for it was clear that I could not remain under Simon Caseman's roof. Kate had written urging me to come to Remus Castle and I thought that perhaps I should go to her for there I could discuss my future.

She would urge me to" marry Rupert. I knew that she still thought I would in time come to see the reason of this. Once she had plans for making a grand marriage for me. This was hardly likely now that I had no dowry. Nor did I care for that.

It was twilight-the end of a lovely summer's day. The night was calm and still for the slight breeze of the day had disappeared.

As I sat at my window one of the servants came by. She looked up at me and said: "I have a message for you, Mistress Damask. 'Twas from a gentleman who would have word with you.”

"What gentleman?”

"Well, Mistress, he would not say. He said to tell you that if you would go to the ivy-covered gate he would be there and you would know who had sent the message.”

I could scarcely hide my excitement. Who could have sent such a message but Bruno?

Who else knew of the ivy-covered door?

I said: "Thank you, Jennet," as calmly as I could, and as soon as she had gone I went to my room, changed my gown and arranged my hair in its most becoming fashion.

I took a cloak and wrapped it around me and I went at once to the door in the Abbey wall.

Bruno was there. His eyes were alight with a kind of triumph which could only be because I had come. He took my hands and kissed them. He seemed different from ever before.

"So you have come back!" I cried.

"And you are pleased?”

"It is not necessary for me to tell you what you know already.”

"I knew you would be happy to see me. Damask, you are different. Are you happier now?”

"Yes," I replied, because it was true. In this moment I was happier because he was back. "What happened? Where did you go? Why did you leave us so mysteriously?”

"It was necessary," he said.

"To leave us... without a word of explanation.”

"Yes," he replied. "And since I went you have lost your father.”

"It was terrible, Bruno.”

"I know. But I am back now. I shall stop you grieving. You can be happy again now I'm back.”

He held my hand firmly in his; with the other he opened the door and we went through into the Abbey grounds.

I drew back. "It has been bestowed now, Bruno.”

"I know it.”

"We should be trespassing.”

"You have trespassed many times before.”

"It's true.”

"And now you are with me. It was always believed by the monks that I should become their Abbot.”

"Terrible things have happened to us both.”

"Perhaps it was necessary. There has to be a testing time for us all.”

"There is so much I want to ask you. Where have you been? Have you come back to stay?

Where are you living? It is not the same with us now. Our house belongs to Simon Caseman.”

He turned to me and smiling gently, touched my face. "I know all this, Damask. I know all.”

"Do you know who has taken the Abbey?”

"Yes," he said, "I know that too.”

"Some rich nobleman, I'll swear. It will seem so strange. But it is better so mayhap than that it should fall into further decay.”

"It is better so," said Bruno.

"Where are you taking me?”