Mistress Penwick | Page 4

their early flight;
her heart exultant, save for the sorrow of not seeing her master again as
she believed and having some little fear of the new one she was about
to encounter.

CHAPTER II
THE LORD OF CRANDLEMAR

The adieux had been said, the night had come and gone, and with the
dawn the tide drew away carrying with it a large vessel upon the deck
of which stood Janet and Katherine wrapped in long traveling capes.
"'Tis the most wondrous sight I ever beheld! Thinkest thou the
Bethlehem Star could have been more beautiful than yonder Lucifer.
Indeed it seems, Janet, we see in all nature the reflection of the Christ;
the birth of dawn; the presence of the star; these black waters. 'Tis
awesome! Listen, Janet, thou must acknowledge thou hearest
something more than plaint of ocean. 'Tis something more than sound.
It fills me with an exultation I cannot analyze. Dost feel it, Janet?"
"I cannot tell what I feel, Mistress." And Janet covered her mouth to
smother her laughter; first of all because she felt seasick, and secondly
the child's words stirred in her no such youthful enthusiasm. She was
not yet rejuvenated.
"And with all this glory of nature filling me I can less understand Sister
Phelia's words at parting. Her eyes seemed to burn to my very soul as
she said: 'Dost not feel as thou art leaving these sacred walls that thou
art passing from a retreat where the Blessed Virgin ever guides thee?' 'I
have felt her presence ever, said I. 'But 'tis better to renounce the world
and have strength to live in seclusion,' she answered. I made bold and
replied that I thought it required much greater strength to go on the
battlefield of the world and be good than live within the impenetrable
walls of a cloister where bin cannot come. 'But, child, thou wilt see
beautiful things made by the hand of man that will fill thy heart leaving
not room for the Divine Presence.' 'Nay,' said I, 'I shall see God's work
in every beauteous thing and I shall trust Him for the gift of penetration
to see through filthy rags and distorted body the beauty of the soul.'
'Twas her wish that I should write her once a year of my spiritual
condition and to think of her as being happy in her isolation. And with
this strange light about us, the farewell recurs to me and I wonder that
human beings could shut themselves from so beauteous a thing as
Nature in their fear of contamination by sin!"
"My Lambkin, 'they talk strongest who never felt temptation;' thou art
going into a world thou hast not seen, much less, felt its power. Sister

Phelia is right. We acknowledge the Divine Presence is everywhere;
she intimated thou wert leaving a place where sin was not, to go where
it abounded. There is one place, however, we may always be sure of
finding the divine atom whether we be in seclusion or abroad; 'tis in our
own heart and called before the ages, 'Holy Ghost.' Many of us fail to
recognize it; others cry 'insolvency'; but the better part draw on it with
confidence. It honours our call and gives us on demand, conscience,
with which we can withstand all sin if we so desire."
The second day upon the water Janet fell a victim to _mal-de-mer_, and
'twas Katherine who turned nurse; and after four or five days Janet
grew better and was half ashamed, veiling her confusion with
self-accusation: "'Tis good enough for me, 'twas wrong to be eating
pork, 'tis positively forbidden us. I lay it to that! I gave myself over to
eating to make up for a fast of nine long years. Thou hadst not a qualm
because thou hast been fed on wine and porridge and beef gruel and
whey. The clearness of thy body speaks for a pure stomach. Let the
awfulness of my condition warn thee. Thou must never grumble when I
take from thee weightier food than thou hast been used to. But,
Lambkin, we have had a glorious voyage inasmuch as we have had
both calm and storm; had I been privileged to do the ordering, we could
not have had better weather."
Janet and her mistress walked the deck when 'twas possible, from rise
to set of sun, and Katherine expanded until her convent dress became
straightened, and she retired to her bed while Janet let out seams,
augmenting it to her mistress' further comfort and development.
It was almost with regret that they espied land; for Janet was anxious,
and Katherine was apprehensive of the Scot, and as the white cliffs
appeared to rise higher they each wished the sea journey had just
begun.
At