He would have died for my lord, and joyfully; and now he is turned adrift, to die to no purpose.

Ah, well." He heaved a deep sigh and fell silent, whilst I--the pent-up anguish in me suddenly released to hear my thoughts thus expressed--fell soundlessly to weeping.
"Do you reprove me, Fra Gervasio ?" quoth my mother, quite emotionless.
The monk pushed back his stool and rose ere he replied.

"I must," he said, "or I am unworthy of the scapulary I wear.

I must reprove this unchristian act, or else am I no true servant of my Master." She crossed herself with her thumb-nail upon the brow and upon the lips, to repress all evil thoughts and evil words--an unfailing sign that she was stirred to anger and sought to combat the sin of it.

Then she spoke, meekly enough, in the same cold, level voice.
"I think it is you who are at fault," she told him, "when you call unchristian an act which was necessary to secure this child to Christ." He smiled a sad little smile.