The Miracle at St. Bruno's

I was dreaming of my child though I refused to think of it as a boy; although I knew that Bruno did and so did others in the Abbey. There was no one in this place who did not await with awe and reverence the birth of my child. I could well understand how Queen Anne Boleyn had felt when she was with child. It had been so important for her to produce a boy. I wondered what her feelings had been when the Lady Elizabeth was born. And later when she had given birth to a stillborn boy!

My thoughts were interrupted suddenly for clearly in the moonlight I saw a figure gliding across the sward. I thought at first it was the ghost for the figure was wearing the robes of a monk of St. Bruno's and over his head was a cowl which concealed his face. This was the ghost I had seen when I visited my father's grave.

I stood up, my hands on my body as though to calm the child. The figure was coming from the direction of the tunnels and making its way toward the scriptorium.

It turned suddenly and looked toward the monks' dorter and as it did so, the cowl fell back from his head and I saw that it was Bruno.

He hastily pulled up the cowl and went toward the scriptorium; later I saw the light of a lantern there.

I went back to bed. I was puzzled. I could understand his going to the scriptorium in the night if some detail had occurred to him, but from whence had he come and why should he have worn the garb of a monk?

I felt certain then that the ghost who had reputedly haunted the Abbey was Bruno.

I went back to bed and lay there pondering. I must have slept for when I awoke it was time almost for rising and Bruno was beside me.

I made a sudden decision to say nothing of the matter and this decision in itself was an indication of the changing relationship between us.

It was less than a week later when Bruno came into my sitting room where I was reading to Honey and said he had something to say to me.

He said: "Damask, I have to go away for a short while.”

"Away?" I cried. "But where?”

"It is necessary for me to travel to the Continent.”

"For what purpose?”

A faint irritation crossed his features. "A matter of business.”

"Abbey business?”

He said patiently: "You will realize that the development of these Abbey lands goes on apace.”

"I notice," I replied, "that it grows more like the old community every day.”

"What can you know of the old community, Damask? You were never here. You saw everything from the outside.”

"There are several of the old monks here," I said, "and they regard you as their Abbot.”

"They look on me as their master, which I am. I have given these men work as I might give work to any laborers.”

"The difference being that they have worked here before. They have tilled the soil and baked the bread and caught the fish… and lived the life of solitude. What is the difference in what they were doing now and doing then?”

"A great difference," said Bruno, a trifle impatiently. "Then this was a monastic order-something of which you are entirely ignorant. Now it is a manor house. It happens to have features of a monastery because it was once an abbey. I do beg of you not to interfere in what does not concern you.”

'I must always speak what is in my mind and always shall." I was getting excited and feared it would be bad for the child, so I went on meekly: "You were telling me that you were going abroad.”

"Yes, I am not sure how long I shall be away. It may be several weeks, maybe longer.”

"Where are you going, Bruno?”

To France... to the Low Countries perhaps. You have nothing to fear. You will be well looked after here.”

"I am not afraid for myself," I said. "There is no question of that. Why are you going?”

"There are business matters to which I have to attend.”

"Abbey business?”

He was clearly impatient with my persistence. "My dear Damask, this is a costly enterprise.

If we are to continue we must make it a profitable one. There are certain edible roots which are commonly used on the Continent and very palatable they are and good to eat. I am going to learn of these. There are carrots and turnips which have not been grown in this country. I wish to learn of how to produce them and perhaps to bring some back with me. Hops for making beer are grown a great deal in Holland.

To discover such matters it is necessary for me to go and see for myself.”

It seemed reasonable, but I thought of his prowling about at night and I wondered why he had thought it advisable to wear a monk's robes. He must have been impersonating a ghost. It could only mean that if he were seen not only did he not wish to be recognized but he wanted anyone who saw him to be afraid.

It was mysterious. If Honey had not been there I should have been unable to restrain my curiosity and asked for an explanation. But this was not the moment.

Later I considered it again. The more I knew of Bruno, the more I realized I did not know. There were times when he was like a stranger to me. He showed so clearly that he resented my curiosity, and the relationship between us was changing quickly.